Longtime banker Chuck Lassing has joined Pinnacle Financial Partners as a senior vice president and financial advisor in the client advisory group.

Lassing’s experience in the financial services industry spans more than 28 years. Before joining Pinnacle, Lassing was a senior vice president and relationship manager for Reliant Bank. Other roles include serving as a senior vice president and city president for Magna Bank in Brentwood and as regional president – Middle Tennessee for National Bank of Commerce.

Lassing is a graduate of Montgomery Bell Academy and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Vanderbilt University. He is based at Pinnacle’s downtown Nashville office at Pinnacle at Symphony Place.

Realtor selected for Leadership Academy

Brian Copeland of Village Real Estate Services and member of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors has been accepted into the National Association of Realtors Leadership Academy.

Copeland is one of only 17 Realtors nationally selected to participate in the 2012 class of the NAR Leadership Academy, an initiative designed to nurture and inspire new leaders in the real estate industry. The 2012 Leadership Academy class is composed of Realtors from 11 states, and the first ever international participant from Brazil. The participants will gain and expand upon existing leadership skills and abilities while learning more about NAR.

GNAR member and vice president Hagan Stone of Pilkerton Realtors has been part of this year’s NAR Leadership Class.

Lawless earns 2011 Chambers USA ranking

Thomas W. Lawless is ranked as a leading bankruptcy litigation practitioner in the recently released 2011 edition of Chambers USA. Lawless, who has 30 years of legal experience, is the only solo practitioner in Tennessee to be included in the 2011 Chambers USA directory of recommended lawyers and law firms. Lawless received a Band 2 ranking.

Lawless is certified as a Creditors’ Rights Law Specialist by the American Board of Certification and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization. He is also certified as a Rule 31 mediator by the Tennessee Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution. He has an AV Rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and is listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in America. He has been selected for inclusion in Nashville Business Journal’s Best of the Bar since 2004. He has also been included in Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2006.

Lawless received his law degree from Nashville School of Law in 1980 and a BS degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 1976. He is currently admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Tennessee, as well as the Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Federal Circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Wayland recognized as leading business lawyer

R. Eddie Wayland, a partner in the law firm of King & Ballow, has again been selected for inclusion in the respected book Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Mr. Wayland has been listed in every edition of the book since its inception in 2003.

Chambers Directories identify leading lawyers and law firms through thousands of interviews with clients and lawyers. The guides are researched-based and only top rated lawyers in their field are recognized.

Mr. Wayland is a partner in the law firm of King & Ballow, where he supervises the firm’s litigation section. He has argued before the United States Supreme Court, and numerous federal courts of appeal and state appellate courts. For more than 30 years, Mr. Wayland has concentrated his national practice in the representation of management in all areas of employment law and related litigation.

Frist Clinic adds Becks to staff

Centennial Medical Center has announced that Andrea Beck, M.D., and Robert Beck, M.D., both internal medicine physicians have joined The Frist Clinic.

Dr. Andrea Beck received her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario, School of Medicine in London, Ontario, Canada. She then completed an internal medicine residency at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA.

Dr. Robert Beck received his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. He also completed an internal medicine residency at Tulane University.

Drs. Andrea Beck and Robert Beck are now accepting new patients at their office at 2400 Patterson Street, Suite 400.

Catholic Charities names director of marketing

Mark Barry has been appointed director of marketing by Catholic Charities of Tennessee, Inc.

Barry has been on staff since June 2010, joining the agency as operations director for the Flood Relief Distribution Center established in Bellevue to provide May 2010 flood survivors from throughout Middle Tennessee with basic household needs. In this role, Barry’s attention was focused on community outreach and resource generation -- volunteers, household goods donations and specific needs required to make the Center more efficient -- as well as the Center’s day-to-day operation.

For two years prior to joining Catholic Charities on a fulltime basis, he provided the agency with guidance and assistance with general administration and marketing matters as a management consultant.

Barry worked for Cumberland Swan for 16 years, with extensive involvement in the company’s consumer products development process. In his last role, as director of marketing, he managed a portfolio of products generating approximately $300 million in sales.

Following his undergraduate studies at Duke University, Barry earned an MBA in Marketing from Vanderbilt University. In 2010, he was awarded a Certificate in Graduate Studies in Sustainable Practices from Lipscomb University.

Neal & Harwell achieves top ranking

Neal & Harwell, PLC, received top Band 1 ranking for its General Commercial Litigation practice in the 2011 edition of Chambers USA. In addition, three members of Neal & Harwell are included the 2011 Chambers USA directory of recommended lawyers and law firms. Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr., the firm’s managing partner, is cited for his white-collar defense practice and as a crisis management specialist. James R. Kelley is described as excelling in bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights litigation. James F. Sanders is identified as a first-class trial attorney who is hugely experienced in complex business litigation.

Neal & Harwell is one of only four firms in Tennessee to achieve the highest recognition for its General Commercial Litigation practice.

Chambers USA describes Neal & Harwell as a “litigation boutique” that handles the full spectrum of civil and commercial disputes for an impressive client roster. In its profile of Neal & Harwell, Chambers USA states, “The team is perhaps best known for its expertise in white-collar criminal defense work, though healthcare-related litigation, product liability lawsuits, class actions and entertainment disputes also form a significant part of the practice.”

Chambers USA ranks the leading firms and lawyers in an extensive range of practice areas throughout America.

Crosslin starts executive recruiting company

Crosslin & Associates, a regional accounting and consulting firm, has joined with two experienced executive search and human resource consulting professionals to establish a Nashville-based executive search company, Crosslin Executive Search.

Crosslin Executive Search provides identification and placement services for C-level executives for both profit and not-for-profit entities.

John Blank, managing principal of Crosslin Executive Search, brings 14 years of executive placement experience to the Crosslin Executive Search team. He recently served as national practice director for RHI Executive Search in New York, and served as director of corporate recruitment for Vanguard Health Systems and contract director of corporate talent acquisition for Morgan McKenzie Group (Actus Lend Lease), both in Nashville.

Mike Stover joins Crosslin as principal, bringing more than 13 years of experience to the team. He most recently worked as human resources practice director for Iron Gate Workforce, a Chicago-based healthcare consulting firm. He has extensive background in corporate human resources, professional recruiting and worked for two years with the Chicago Bears in player personnel.

Fifth Third adds 5 in Nashville area

Fifth Third Bank has announced the addition of three personal bankers, an investment sales representative and a corporate relationship manager for its Middle Tennessee locations.

Megan Brearey joins the bank as a large corporate relationship manager in the National Healthcare Finance group. She is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio and earned her MBA from Case Western Reserve University. Prior to joining Fifth Third, Megan was with National City Bank/PNC Bank in Cleveland, Ohio. She has worked in commercial credit and as a commercial RM for the past six years.

John Herald joins Fifth Third Securities as an investment sales representative. John is a graduate of Centre College and was previously employed at Kentucky Housing Corporation. He has worked in investment banking/corporate finance for 11 years.

Brandon Flexer, personal banker, is a graduate of Murray State University and was previously employed at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. He has worked in retail sales for four years and will be servicing customers at 4501 Harding Road.

Regina Grevious, personal banker, will be at the Hickory Village financial center, 5820 Nolensville Pike. Regina was previously employed at First Tennessee Bank and is pursuing a degree in business and commerce. She has worked in banking for five years.

Jay Rowe serves as a personal banker at the Gallatin Financial Center, 1131 Nashville Pike. Rowe received an undergraduate degree from Lipscomb University in Nashville and an MBA from Cumberland University in Lebanon. He was previously employed at Edward Jones, holds Series 7 and Series 66 licenses and has worked in marketing and sales for 12 years.