Attorney Carolyn Schott has joined the law firm of Sherrard & Roe, PLC, as a member.

Prior to joining Sherrard & Roe, Schott was a shareholder at Baker Donelson, where she worked 11 years. Schott’s experience includes federal and state tax, tax litigation, estate planning, exempt organizations and corporations.

A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law, Schott also holds an M.S. in taxation from Grand Valley State University in Michigan and a M.A. in philosophy from the University of Kansas. She completed her undergraduate work at Hollins University in Virginia.

Schott has received a host of recognitions, including being ranked among the Best Lawyers in America (2013), Non-profit/Charities Law (2012, 2013), and Trusts & Estates Litigation (2013). She also holds an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, meaning she is peer-ranked at the highest level of professional excellence.

Neal named partner at Stites & Harbison

Stites & Harbison, PLLC has elected attorney Brian Neal as member (partner) in the law firm.

A litigator in the Business Litigation and the Torts & Insurance practice service groups, Neal concentrates his practice on trial work in connection with complex commercial disputes, bad-faith insurance defense, products liability and general litigation. He has served as first-chair litigator in a wide range of matters, and he has experience litigating matters on appeal before the highest courts in Tennessee.

He is a graduate of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Leadership Law Class of 2011, the Young Leaders Council Class 50 and a member of the 2014 Class of Nashville Emerging Leaders.

Neal holds a law degree from University of Michigan Law School, a master’s of science degree from the University of Edinburgh and a bachelor’s degree from Birmingham Southern College.

Bass, Berry & Sims elects 3 new members

Joseph B. Crace, Danielle M. Sloane and Lucas Ross Smith have been elected to membership in Bass, Berry & Sims PLC.

Crace focuses his practice on litigation involving alleged violations of federal and state securities laws, derivative litigation, class actions relating to public company mergers and acquisitions, and shareholder disputes.

He earned his law degree, cum laude, from Cornell University and graduated cum laude from the Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Sloane focuses her practice exclusively on health care law, advising clients on a multitude of complex regulatory, operational, compliance and transactional issues.

She graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and earned a B.A. in biology from the University of Virginia.

Smith represents companies across the nation in complex litigation and provides antitrust counseling and analysis in proposed mergers and acquisitions.

He earned an honors bachelor of arts (Greek, Latin and philosophy) at Xavier University, then his law degree and a master’s degree in theological studies through the joint law/divinity program at Vanderbilt University Law School and Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Chef’s Market names new director of sales

Chef’s Market Catering & Restaurant has named Bo Jennings as its director of sales. Jennings first joined the Chef’s Market team as a sales manager in April 2012.

During his tenure at Chef’s Market, Jennings has secured a venue management agreement for Gallatin’s Depot Square event venue and an exclusive catering agreement with Hyatt Place Downtown Nashville. Prior to joining Chef’s Market, Jennings was the sales and event coordinator for the Glorieta Conference Center.

He is a graduate of Hannibal LaGrange University and a board member and the director of programs and education for the International Special Events Society’s Nashville chapter.

Civil engineer joins Barge Waggoner

Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon has hired Roman Plechlo, CET, for the firm’s land resources department as civil designer in the Nashville office. He will be responsible for supporting the engineering staff with CAD/drafting work for civil engineering projects.

Plechlo graduated from SAID Polytechnic in Canada in 2001 with a degree in engineering design and drafting technology. Prior to joining Barge Waggoner, he was employed with The Focus Corporation in Canada.

Duke Realty promotes Brown to senior VP

J. Christopher Brown has been promoted to regional senior vice president for Duke Realty’s Georgia/Tennessee Region.

In his new position, Brown will be responsible for the company’s Nashville operations, in addition to Atlanta and Savannah, Ga. Brown will oversee the leasing and management of Duke Realty’s industrial and office properties in these markets, which total more than 23 million square feet.

Brown has overseen Duke Realty’s Atlanta and Savannah operations since 2007. Prior to that, he was vice president of leasing in Atlanta and held positions in the company’s financial analysis and acquisitions and dispositions departments. He joined Duke Realty in 1996 after five years as a senior real estate consultant for a major accounting firm.

First Tennessee announces new hires, promotions

First Tennessee Bank has hired Candice Wilson as vice president of business banking.

Wilson graduated from East Tennessee State University with a BBA in Marketing. She has 19 years of banking expertise, including seven years as a relationship manager and sales team leader with SunTrust.

Additional promotions and hires include:

• John Allen, who has been promoted to vice president of community banking in Murfreesboro. Allen is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and previously managed the Green Hills Financial Center Financial Center.

• Martha Moss has been hired as First Tennessee Bank’s treasury management sales lead for the Middle Tennessee Region. She spent 20 years with Bank of America and Bank of Nashville. She attended Middle Tennessee State University.

• Jondra Settle has been promoted to treasury management sales officer in Middle Tennessee. She has 16 years of experience in banking and cash management services and holds a degree in management and marketing from the University of North Alabama.

• Greg Allen has been hired as for the Commercial Business team as a senior vice president in the credit risk department. He previously was with SunTrust Bank and holds a degree from Centre College, as well as an MBA from Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management.

DVL promotes Wiley to account executive

DVL Public Relations & Advertising recently announced the promotion of Jasmine Wiley.

Wiley, who has been with DVL since 2011, has been promoted from assistant account executive to account executive. Her areas of focus include media relations, social media strategy, event management and internal communications. At DVL, Wiley works with clients in a variety of industries including retail, real estate and automotive. She is also a member of DVL’s social media team.

McNeely Pigott & Fox promotes associate execs

McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations has promoted Mitchell Despot, Sam Kennedy, Mara Naylor, Katherine Neunaber, Lacey Purcell and Kate Vorys to assistant account executives. They were previously associate account executives.

• Despot interned at MP&F in the spring of 2011 and joined the company as a staff associate later that fall after graduating cum laude from Lipscomb University.

• Kennedy joined MP&F in July of 2011. A Nashville native, he graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2011 with degrees in political science and history.

• Naylor joined McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations in March 2012 after graduating from the University of Tennessee in 2011 with a degree in communication.

• Neunaber joined MP&F in 2011. She earned a degree in communications from the University of Tennessee.

• Purcell, a native of Mount Juliet, joined MP&F in 2012. She graduated from the University of Tennessee and is working toward a master’s through the University of Florida.

• Vorys joined MP&F in 2011 following an internship with the firm. She graduated in 2011 from Vanderbilt University with a degree in communication studies.

ENT/otolaryngologist joins Tristar Skyline

James Roth, M.D., has joined Tristar Skyline Medical Center in Donelson as an ENT/Otolaryngologist.

Roth completed his internship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and his ENT residency at LSU Health Science Center in Louisiana.