Three attorneys have joined Bass, Berry & Sims in Nashville, Jennifer McLellan as counsel along with associates William Abramson and Justin Hay.
McLellan advises clients on complex and strategic business transactions, with an emphasis on cross-border and domestic mergers, acquisitions and dispositions. She represents public and private companies in a number of industries, including the health care, technology and financial services industries.
She previously was a senior associate at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP in New York where she represented companies in a variety of complex transactional matters. McLellan earned a law degree and a corporate and commercial law certificate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and an undergraduate degree from Tulane University.
Abramson represents clients in all facets of employment law, providing counsel with respect to state and federal employment law compliance, including issues involving the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Labor Standards Act.
He previously was an associate with McGuireWoods LLP in Chicago as part of the labor and employment group. Abramson earned a law degree from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and an undergraduate degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Hay advises public companies regarding compliance with federal and state securities laws, and public and private capital markets transactions.
Hay previously was an associate in the capital markets group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago and the corporate group at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Indianapolis. Hay earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law and an undergraduate degree from Belmont University.
Polsinelli elevates 30 new shareholders
Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli has elected 30 new shareholders, including Joshua Arters in Nashville.
Arters represents a diverse group of health care entities, including premier-profit and not-for-profit hospital systems, hospital associations, ambulatory surgery centers, air ambulance service providers, specialty providers, national physician groups, ancillary service providers and medical device companies.
He is a graduate of Belmont University and the University of Tennessee College of Law.
Lewis to succeed Coggin as Lifepoint Health CFO
Lifepoint Health has announced the appointment of Aaron Lewis to the role of executive vice president and chief financial officer. Lewis, who serves as Lifepoint’s executive vice president, growth and integrated solutions, will replace CFO Michael Coggin, who is retiring in March.
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Lewis began his career in investment banking as an analyst at Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York. He transitioned into health care operations in 2009 and served in various development and operational roles at Vanguard Health Systems, RegionalCare and RCCH HealthCare Partners. Before joining the Lifepoint leadership team in 2018, Lewis was senior vice president of strategic growth at RCCH.
Coggin previously served Lifepoint as senior vice president and chief accounting officer, a role in which he was responsible for external financial reporting, corporate accounting and more. Before that, he held various financial roles at Specialty Care Services Group and Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA.
Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee names president, CEO
Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee has selected Danielle Whitworth Barnes as its president and CEO.
Barnes served as an executive director for Ernst & Young, LLC, leading the U.S. Human Services practice for the firm. Her work as a government executive lead within the firm is dedicated to helping clients create innovative and practical solutions for families and vulnerable individuals that have a lasting impact.
Before Ernest & Young, she served as commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Barnes holds certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and maintains an active law license. She earned her undergraduate degree from Spelman College and her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law.
Curtis named Economic Development Council VP
The Tennessee Economic Development Council has selected its board officers for 2023-24, with Kendrick Curtis, assistant executive director of the Middle Tennessee Industrial Development Association, named TEDC’s vice president for 2023-24. This position comes after years of service in the economic development community.
Other new officers:
• President: Marshall Ramsey, president, Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce
• Immediate Past President: Lindsay Frilling, CEO, Obion County Joint Economic Development Corporation
• Secretary/Treasurer: Vicki Bunch, chief workforce development officer, Greater Jackson Chamber
• West Tennessee Rep.: Julian McTizic (Mayor, Bolivar)
• Middle Tennessee Rep.: Ryan Egly (president & CEO, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce
• East Tennessee Rep.: Lisa Collett (executive director, Morgan County Economic Development
• State Liaison: Jamie Stitt, deputy assistant commissioner of business development, Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development
• UTCIS Rep.: Kim Denton, economic development director, UT Center for Industrial Services
• SEDC Rep.: Edward Burch, director of business development, TNECD
• TVA Rep.: Nick Cunningham, regional development specialist, Middle TN, Tennessee Valley Authority
TEDC is a statewide organization for both public and private sector professionals involved in economic development. TEDC provides professional development opportunities for its more than 425 members and works with state officials to maintain an attractive business environment in Tennessee.