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Jacob Swatley Selected for 2025 TBA Leadership Law Program

The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) today announced that 35 attorneys from across the state have been selected for its 2025 Leadership Law (TBALL) program.

Now in its 22nd year, Leadership Law is designed to equip Tennessee lawyers with the vision, knowledge and skills necessary to serve as leaders in their profession and local communities. The class will meet for its first session in January and spend the next six months learning about leadership in the legal profession, issues in the courts, policymaking in state government and the importance of community service.

Class members are:

Bahar Azhdari, Brookdale Senior Living Inc. — Brentwood 
Michael Beehan, Fox Farley Willis Burnette — Clinton 
Hunter Branstetter, Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison — Nashville 
Gordon Byars, Byars Law Office — Cookeville 
Dawn Campbell, LifeLinc Corporation — Memphis 
Antonio Carroll, Nashville Electric Service — Nashville 
Will Choppin, Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency — Nashville 
Crystal R. Cole, Attorney at Law — Nashville 
Meagan Collver, Lewis Thomason — Chattanooga 
Devin DeVore, Easter & DeVore — Knoxville 
Brittany Faith, Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison — Chattanooga 
Charles Ferguson, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services — Nashville 
Chicoya Smith Gallman, Ortale Kelley Law Firm — Nashville 
William Gill, Tennessee District Public Defenders Conference — Franklin 
Patrick Hillard, Burch, Porter & Johnson — Memphis 
April Holland, Miller & Martin — Chattanooga 
Jennifer Vallor Ivy, Tennessee Department of Transportation — Jackson 
John Jolley, Legal Aid of East Tennessee — Chattanooga 
LB McCullum, Thompson Burton — Nashville 
Kate Melby, Davidson County District Attorney General’s Office — Nashville 
Nathaniel Ogle, Burks & Ogle — Knoxville 
Olivia Park, McAngus Goudelock & Courie — Brentwood 
Mitchell Raines, Tennessee Public Defenders Conference – Appellate Division — Franklin 
Tyler Ricker, Sims Funk — Nashville 
Jennie Silk, Baker Donelson — Memphis 
Jennifer Sneed, ALSAC – St. Jude — Memphis 
Jacob Swatley, Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh — Collierville 
Rebekka Freeman Terrell, Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office — Germantown 
Chris Tutor, Butler Snow — Memphis 
Jacob Vanzin, Dodson, Parker, Behm & Capparella — Nashville 
Zach Walden, 8th Judicial District Criminal Court Judge — Jacksboro 
Darius Walker Jr., Ogletree Deakins — Nashville 
Ronda Webb-Stewart, Tennessee Department of Health — Nashville 
Bianca White, Lincoln Memorial University — Knoxville 
Emily Wright, Wright & Wright — Livingston

Photographs and additional biographical information are available for class members on request.


The Tennessee Bar Association is the largest professional association in Tennessee with nearly 14,000 members. Founded in 1881, the TBA represents the entire spectrum of the legal profession in Tennessee and beyond, and is dedicated to enhancing fellowship and professionalism among the members of Tennessee’s legal community.

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