MANIER & HEROD, P.C. - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
Adrienne B. Fazio is a principal with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in workers' compensation. Ms. Fazio graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from University of Southern Mississippi and earned her Juris Doctor from Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana. After practicing civil litigation and workers' compensation law in Mississippi, Adrienne moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where she devoted her practice solely to assisting clients nationwide with Medicare Secondary Payer compliance, including Section 111 Reporting, conditional payment claim issues and Medicare Set-asides. In April 2012, Adrienne left private practice and took a position as a Workers' Compensation Specialist IV with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Workers' Compensation Division, in Nashville, TN. There, Adrienne represented several programs, including the Workers' Compensation penalty program, Uninsured Employers Fund and Employee Misclassification Fund, as well as briefly working with Utilization Review. Additionally, she was responsible for advising the Division regarding Medicare requirements involved in closing future medicals.
Ms. Fazio also assists the firm's surety and fidelity practice groups on lawsuits in Mississippi, Alabama and Washington, DC. Her extensive litigation experience includes serving as litigation counsel on matters involving commercial surety bonds, contract surety bonds and fidelity bonds and policies.
Ms. Fazio is admitted to practice in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. She is a member of the Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations, as well as a member of the Mid-South Workers' Compensation Association, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association and the Defense Research Institute.
Practice Areas
Commercial and Professional Liability Insurance Coverage
Job Titles:
- Associate / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Associate With
- Member of the American Bar Association
Alex Brinson is an associate with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the areas of surety law, fidelity law, and general insurance coverage and litigation. Mr. Brinson earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2019, with a concentration in Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Mr. Brinson leverages his previous experience working for national firms in Chicago in the fields of insurance defense litigation and insurance coverage. During law school, Mr. Brinson competed on both the Moot Court and Trial Advocacy teams while attending the Valparaiso University School of Law, winning awards at both competitions. Prior to law school, Mr. Brinson received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Indiana University.
Mr. Brinson is a member of the American Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association, and Chicago Bar Association. In his free time, Mr. Brinson enjoys baseball, spending time outdoors, and learning to play the guitar
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Support Staff
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Support Staff
Job Titles:
- Associate / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Associate With
- Member of the American Bar Association
Cate Farone is an associate with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the areas of surety law, fidelity law, and general insurance coverage and litigation. Her passion for navigating complex issues within these areas began during law school when she worked for Manier & Herod as a law clerk and summer associate from Spring 2023 to Spring 2024. Ms. Farone then graduated cum laude from Belmont University College of Law in May 2024, earning her Juris Doctor.
During law school, Ms. Farone was also an Articles and Notes Editor for the Belmont Law Review and competed in moot court. On her moot court teams, Ms. Farone served as chief-brief writer and won a best brief award at the regional level of the National Moot Court Competition. Prior to law school, Ms. Farone received her Bachelor of Science in Political Science, with a concentration in pre-law, and Spanish Language from Middle Tennessee State University.
Ms. Farone is a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and Nashville Bar Association. In her free time, Ms. Farone enjoys spending time with her husband and visiting her family and friends in her hometown of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Legal Assistant / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Support Staff
Job Titles:
- Associate / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Associate With
- Member of the American Bar Association
Christina Gabriella Buru is an associate with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the areas of bankruptcy law, surety law, and commercial litigation. Ms. Buru previously clerked for the Honorable Catherine J. Furay of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin and then for the Honorable Bonnie L. Clair of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Ms. Buru earned her Juris Doctor from St. Johns University School of Law. During law school, Ms. Buru competed in the Judith Kaye Arbitration Competition where her team placed third and received recognition for their opening and closing statements. Ms. Buru also served as an Articles and Notes Editor on the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review. Ms. Buru spent a semester working as a judicial extern for the Honorable Sean H. Lane of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. In addition, Ms. Buru interned at UNIDROIT, researching bank insolvency laws. Prior to law school, Ms. Buru received her Bachelor of Arts from New York University.
Ms. Buru is a member of the American Bar Association and Texas Bar Association. In her free time, Ms. Buru enjoys hiking and photography.
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
Job Titles:
- Associate / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Associate With
Cody M. Henley is an associate with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the areas of business and corporate law, estate planning, and taxation. Mr. Henley received his Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. While Mr. Henley earned his J.D., Mr. Henley served on the Board of the Arizona Journal of International and Comparative Law and earned two J.D. Certificates: Business Litigation and Transactional Business. Mr. Henley spent a semester working as a judicial extern for U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona's Judge James Soto.
Prior to joining Manier & Herod, Mr. Henley worked as an associate with an estate planning firm in Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Henley is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the Nashville Bar Association.
Mr. Henley earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Marketing, cum laude, from Florida Atlantic University. In his free time, Mr. Henley enjoys spending time with his wife and their two dogs and two cats.
Practice Areas
Commercial Finance
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
David J. Deming is a principal with Manier & Herod practicing in the area of workers' compensation. Mr. Deming received his Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University. Mr. Deming received his Juris Doctor from Washington University School of Law.
Mr. Deming has practiced law with Manier & Herod since 1985. His practice focuses exclusively on workers' compensation litigation, where he represents employers, self-insured employers and workers' compensation insurance carriers in lawsuits and Department of Labor proceedings throughout the State of Tennessee. He has served as a speaker at many seminars involving workers' compensation issues and is actively involved in the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association where he has served as President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and as a member of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Deming is listed in A.M. Best's Best Lawyers of America for Workers' Compensation Law and is designated as a U.S. News Best Lawyer. He was named as Best Lawyers' 2018 Nashville Workers' Compensation Law - Employer's "Lawyer of the Year."
Practice Areas
Workers' Compensation
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
David is a principal with Manier & Herod. He graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi College in 1998. In 2001, he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he was a member of the Tennessee Law Review. David is a member of the Tennessee Self-Insurers' Association, Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations, as well as the Mid-South Workers' Compensation Association.
Since 2003, David's practice has exclusively involved the defense of employers and insurers in workers' compensation claims. He has resolved hundreds of cases, influenced important legislation, tried countless contested cases, and argued appeals at the Tennessee Supreme Court and the Tennessee Court of Appeals.
David routinely conducts seminars for clients all over the southeast and has spoken at educational conferences in Tennessee and Mississippi. He also edited and contributed to the firm's hardcover book Tennessee Workers' Compensation, third and fourth editions. Most recently, in June 2019, he gave a talk about Death Benefits at the 22nd Tennessee Workers' Compensation Educational Conference in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, hosted by the Bureau of Workers' Compensation.
David is also involved in his community. He served the Williamson County Soccer Association on its Board of Directors. He has coached or is currently coaching his kids' baseball and/or soccer teams. He is also a volunteer for the National Weather Service in Nashville. In 2016, he was a recipient of the Walter J. Bennett Public Service Award given by National Weather Association. If you have any claim or other case involving a weather issue, he would love it.
Practice Areas
Workers' Compensation
Job Titles:
- Paralegal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Support Staff
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Fred C. Statum III is a principal at Manier & Herod specializing in civil litigation. Prior to joining Manier & Herod in 1998, he had prepared and prosecuted through trial cases involving a wide range of subjects, including personal injury, business/partnership disputes, insurance coverage, intellectual property, worker's compensation and discrimination claims, obtaining numerous jury and bench verdicts in favor of his clients in both state and federal courts.
After joining Manier & Herod, Mr. Statum's continuing desire to be involved in the most complex and challenging cases has led him to focus his practice on surety law (including construction payment and performance bond claims and claims involving supersedeas bonds); fidelity law (including claims involving bank fraud and employee dishonesty); employment law (including discrimination, retaliatory discharge, non-compete agreements, claims under the Human Rights Act and wage and hour claims); professional liability defense (including attorney, accountant, architect, and appraiser malpractice cases); products liability defense; general insurance defense litigation (including complex catastrophic injury, admiralty and maritime claims and premises liability); computer and data breach claims; and intellectual property (including litigation involving patents, copyrights and trade secrets). He has procured numerous successful results on behalf of his clients in each of these practice areas in both state and federal courts throughout the United States. In addition to his extensive trial experience, Mr. Statum has effectively represented many clients on appeal in both federal and state appellate courts. Mr. Statum has experience handling bench trials, jury trials, arbitration hearings, appeals, and class action claims.
Mr. Statum received his Bachelor of Science, with honors, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1986. He then received his Juris Doctor from the University Of Tennessee College Of Law in 1990.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Associate / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Associate With
- Member of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association
Gabi Jackson is an associate with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the area of workers' compensation and works with employers and insurance carriers to resolve workers' compensation claims.
Ms. Jackson received her Juris Doctor from The University of Mississippi School of Law in 2022. During law school, she was President of the Black Law Students' Association and a member of the Negotiation Board, an advocacy board focusing on negotiation, mediation, and dispute resolution. As a member of Negotiation Board, she was recognized as a Top Negotiator and won the 2020 Fall FINRA Internal Competition. She was also chosen as a member of the Business Law Fellowship, a program that allows first-year law students interested in business and corporate law the opportunity to work in general counsel offices of corporations and participate in advanced legal courses. During her first-year summer, Ms. Jackson interned at the National Sea Grant Law Center. She was also a member of the Dean's Leadership Council.
Prior to law school, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Mississippi State University, where she was very active in the student body. Ms. Jackson was President of the Sociological Student Association and facilitated numerous charity events aimed at serving the local community. She served two years as a Social Science Research Assistant at Mississippi State University's Social Science Research Center. As a research assistant, she worked in the Mississippi Alcohol Substance Education Program, Mississippi's statutorily mandated DUI Intervention Program.
Ms. Jackson is currently a member of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, crochet, and spending time with her two cats.
Practice Areas
Workers' Compensation
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
Heather Hardt Douglas is a principal with Manier & Herod practicing in the area of workers' compensation defense. Ms. Douglas received her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she served as Student Materials Editor for the Tennessee Law Review.
Ms. Douglas is a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, and Mid-South Workers' Compensation Association.
 She currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association and as editor of the TDLA Journal. She is a speaker at the Workers' Compensation Institute's annual educational conference in Orlando, Florida. Ms. Douglas was appointed as Vice-Chair to the Workers' Compensation and Employers' Liability Law Committee of the American Bar Association's Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section beginning in 2016. Ms. Douglas has been named a Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Star for the workers' compensation practice area since 2013.
Practice Areas
Workers' Compensation
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner and Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
James H. Tucker, Jr. is the Managing Partner and Chairman of the Executive Committee at Manier & Herod. His practice focuses on workers' compensation and civil litigation. Mr. Tucker graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science from Tennessee State University. He has also earned his Master of Divinity from the Vanderbilt Divinity School and his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law.
Mr. Tucker served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr., former Chancellor with the Davidson County Chancery Court and as Law Clerk to the Honorable John T. Nixon, former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. He has served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Tennessee.
Mr. Tucker was inducted as a Fellow of the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers having been determined to be one who has devoted a long and distinguished career to the practice of workers' compensation law in accordance with the highest of ethical and professional standards. Martindale-Hubbell, one of the largest and most comprehensive source of lawyer ratings in the world, awarded Mr. Tucker the highest possible rating, which is an "AV Preeminent" rating. The "A" portion indicates the highest possible rating for legal ability, while the "V" portion indicates adherence to the highest standard of professional conduct.
Mr. Tucker drafted a significant part of the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Reform Act of 2011. He is the co-author of the second and third editions of Tennessee Workers' Compensation and served as Managing Editor for the fourth and fifth editions of the publication.
Mr. Tucker has served as a long-standing board member and President of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute, having served as the DRI State Representative for the State of Tennessee and on the Workers' Compensation, Membership, and DRI For Life Committees. Mr. Tucker is a member of the Mid-South Workers' Compensation Association where he has served as President and a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Tucker has also served as Vice-Chair to the Workers' Compensation and Employers' Liability Law Committee of the American Bar Association's Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section.
Mr. Tucker is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, having previously served as Board Chairman. Mr. Tucker has produced a number of seminars and events on workers' compensation for various clientele including the Tennessee Self-Insurer's Association. He is also a member of the Workers' Compensation Institute and is an annual presenter at the Workers' Compensation Educational Conference. He has served as a member of the Harry Phillips American Inns of Court. He is a member of the Napier-Looby, Nashville, Tennessee, American, and National Bar Associations. His current practice concentrates on workers' compensation cases and insurance litigation throughout the State of Tennessee.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Jarrod W. Stone is a Shareholder with Manier & Herod, where he is the Head of the firm's Surety and Fidelity Department. Mr. Stone practices in the areas of surety law, fidelity law, construction law, insurance law, and general commercial law. He also represents sureties in distressed contractor transactions and workouts, intercreditor transactions, surety credit facilities, bankruptcies, performance bond defaults, payment bond claims, and virtually every aspect of surety law.
Mr. Stone received his B.S. (2001), magna cum laude, from Middle Tennessee State University. He received his J.D. (2004), summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, and Order of Barristers from the University of Tennessee College of Law. While at the College of Law, Mr. Stone competed on the National Moot Court Team, for which he was awarded the Susan B. Devitt National Moot Court Award. He also competed on the College of Law's National Trial Team, for which he received a Medal for Excellence in Advocacy from the American College of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Stone also twice won the College of Law's Advocate's Prize Moot Court Competition.
Mr. Stone was admitted to practice in Tennessee in 2004 and was subsequently admitted to practice in Kentucky in 2011 and in Ohio in 2016. Mr. Stone is admitted to practice in all federal courts in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Arkansas. Mr. Stone has represented sureties and fidelity insurers in relation to disputes arising in a number of states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Mr. Stone is also a frequent author and presenter on topics related to surety, fidelity, and insurance coverage law. He Co-Chaired the Surety Program at the ABA Fidelity and Surety Law Committee's 2016 Midwinter Meeting held in New York in January 2016. Mr. Stone also Co-Chaired the 2013 Southern Surety and Fidelity Claims Conference in Charleston, South Carolina. He also often conducts in-house seminars and CE presentations for his clients.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Jeffrey S. Price served as Manier & Herod's Managing Partner and Chairman of the Executive Committee from 2014 through 2020. His practice focuses on areas of fidelity law, surety law, cyber risk and liability insurance coverage, D&O and E&O insurance and commercial litigation. Mr. Price is the immediate past Chair of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee of the American Bar Association (2021-22). In 2022, he was elected to the Section Council for the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the ABA and will serve a three year term in that capacity (2022-2025). Mr. Price received his bachelor of science, magna cum laude, from Gardner Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. Mr. Price received his Juris Doctor, summa cum laude and Order of the Coif, from the University of Tennessee College of Law. During law school, Mr. Price was a member of the Tennessee Law Review. Mr. Price is admitted to practice in all the courts of North Carolina and Tennessee as well as a number of federal courts and courts of appeal throughout the United States. With the assistance of other members of the firm who are admitted in other jurisdictions, Mr. Price is able to provide support and representation to his clients in jurisdictions throughout the United States.
Mr. Price has been with Manier & Herod since 1999 focusing on providing support, counsel and advocacy for insurers and sureties throughout the United States. His experience allows him to address many diverse issues and circumstances on behalf of his clients. While his primary objective is to assist the firms' clients in developing effective and creative solutions to their challenges and issues without the necessity of significant expense or protracted litigation, Mr. Price has the experience and commitment to utilize the judicial system or private dispute resolution venues to assure that the client's interests are protected and advanced.
Mr. Price is a certified mediator in North Carolina and his application for Rule 31 Mediator certification is pending in Tennessee. Mr. Price serves as mediator for a range of civil matters, with specialty in construction, insurance coverage, and business litigation disputes. Mr. Price is a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Nashville Bar Association. Mr. Price is AV Rated by Martindale Hubble. Mr. Price is actively involved in many industry organizations and meetings. He is the past Program Chair and current Social Chair for the National Bond Claims Association. Mr. Price has been the Program Chair for many surety, fidelity and cyber risk programs including the national cyber risk program presented at the Surety and Fidelity Law Committee of the American Bar Association's annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Mr. Price has been a speaker, chair, and/or author of dozens of publications focusing on topics relevant to his surety, construction and insurance clients.
Job Titles:
- Associate / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Associate With
- Member of the Tennessee Bar Association
Jenna Macnair is an associate with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the areas of workers' compensation, employment law, surety law, and general civil litigation.
Ms. Macnair received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2019, with a concentration in Advocacy & Dispute Resolution. During law school, she was Articles Editor of the Tennessee Law Review and a student attorney with the law school's Advocacy and Expungement Clinics. Ms. Macnair also served as a legal research assistant focused on the area of employment discrimination. Additionally, she interned for the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and the Appellate Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Prior to law school, Ms. Macnair has a background in human resources, working with employers ranging from high-growth tech start-ups to large food production companies. She is SHRM-CP certified and enjoys the opportunity to counsel and connect with her human resources and corporate peers in her current role.
Ms. Macnair works with employers and insurance carriers to resolve workers' compensation claims, and she represents clients in a variety of employment litigation matters, including workplace discrimination and retaliation claims. She also counsels clients on compliance with state and federal employment laws and assists in the drafting and reviewing of internal policies and documents, including employee handbooks and employment agreements. With her unique background in both workers' compensation and employment litigation, Ms. Macnair often advises clients on the intersection between these two areas of the law, and she is a regular speaker at industry conferences and educational training events.
Ms. Macnair also assists the firm's surety practice group, representing sureties in matters involving miscellaneous commercial surety bonds such as notary bonds, administrator, guardian, executor, and other fiduciary bonds, and VA bonds.
Ms. Macnair is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association, and American Bar Association, as well as a member of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, Defense Research Institute. She currently serves as Editor-In-Chief of TDLA's quarterly publication, The Journal, and she is a graduate of TDLA's 2020 Trial School. Additionally, she is a member of the TBA Young Lawyer Division's Diversity Leadership Institute Class of 2019.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Jennifer Sherman Schnall is an associate attorney with Manier & Herod practicing in the areas of litigation, surety and fidelity law. Jennifer's previous experiences include practicing law at a nationally recognized commercial litigation, entertainment, and labor firm in Nashville.
Jennifer is licensed to practice law in Tennessee, New York, and Texas.
Before calling Nashville her home, Jennifer served as a Legislative Director at the New York State Legislature.
Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Albany, where she graduated summa cum laude. She received her Juris Doctor from Albany Law School, where she graduated cum laude. She has authored articles published in the New York State Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Association. Jennifer is also an active member of the Federalist Society's Nashville Lawyers chapter.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
John M. Gillum is a principal with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the areas of construction and surety litigation. Mr. Gillum received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law.
Mr. Gillum has chaired and spoken at numerous professional organizations, seminars and conferences. Over the last 36 years, Mr. Gillum has litigated as lead counsel in over 100 court and arbitration cases in 18 states.
Practice Areas
Construction Law
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
John W. Barringer, Jr. is a principal with Manier & Herod, practicing in workers' compensation defense. John is a graduate of the University of Mississippi where he received both his Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History and his Juris Doctor (JD). Prior to joining Manier & Herod, John served as Assistant District Attorney of the 21st Judicial District and Lead Prosecutor for the 21st Judicial District Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
John is a Charter Member of the National Association of Medicare Set Aside Professionals and serves on its National Legislative Committee. Over the past decade, he has developed a specialty in the new area of Medicare Set-Asides, a financial agreement that allocates a portion of a workers' compensation settlement to pay for future medical services related to the workers' compensation injury, illness, or disease.
John is a member of the Workers' Compensation Defense Institute (WCDI) and is an annual presenter at the Workers' Compensation Educational Conference. As a member of the WCDI, John volunteers for Give Kids the World a non-profit organization that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
John is a Past President of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association and has also served as Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and as a member of the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association (ABA), the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, the Mid-South Workers' Compensation Association Nashville Chapter, and Tennessee Self-Insurers' Association.
Practice Areas
Civil Litigation
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the American Bar Association
Justin Wear is a Partner with Manier & Herod and a member of the firm's Surety & Fidelity Practice Group. His practice focuses on areas of fidelity law, surety law, cyber risk and liability insurance coverage, D&O and E&O insurance, and commercial litigation. Mr. Wear received his bachelor of arts, magna cum laude, from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He received his Juris Doctor, summa cum laude and Order of the Coif, from the University of Tennessee College of Law. During law school, Mr. Wear was a member of and published contributor to the Tennessee Law Review. Mr. Wear is admitted to practice in all the courts of Tennessee and Arkansas, as well as a number of federal courts and courts of appeal throughout the United States. With the assistance of other members of the firm who are admitted in other jurisdictions, Mr. Wear is able to provide support and representation to his clients in jurisdictions throughout the United States.
Mr. Wear has been with Manier & Herod since 2004, focusing on providing support, counsel, and advocacy for insurers and sureties. He has represented insurers and sureties in large and small disputes, and his practice includes litigating or otherwise handling numerous disputes with the FDIC and other governmental entities. While his primary objective is to assist the firm's without the necessity of significant expense or protracted litigation, Mr. Wear has the experience and commitment to utilize the judicial system (or private dispute resolution venues) to protect his client's interests.
Mr. Wear is a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Nashville Bar Association. He is actively involved and is a frequent speaker in many industry organizations such as the Surety and Fidelity Law Committee of the American Bar Association. He is currently a Vice-Chair of the FSLC's Fidelity Law Subdivision. Mr. Wear has also served a program chair for multiple FSLC meetings, and has authored numerous publications focusing on topics relevant to his fidelity and insurance practice.
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Mary Paty Lynn LeVan is a principal with Manier & Herod. Ms. LeVan practices primarily in the areas of corporate/business, sales and acquisitions, real estate sale and lease transactions, intellectual property, and surety law with an emphasis on financial, pre and post-bankruptcy work out, and collateralization transactions. Ms. LeVan has assisted numerous clients with business planning, general business and governance issues, and purchase/sale and real estate transactions. Ms. LeVan has represented numerous sureties in front end collateralization and intercreditor relationships as well as with distressed principals, including pre and post-bankruptcy surety credit facilities and financing, and performance and payment bond claims, throughout the United States. Ms. LeVan received her law degree from Vanderbilt Law School in 1986 and her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in 1983.
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
Job Titles:
- Member of the American Bar Association
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
Melissa Jane Lee is a principal with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the areas of surety law, construction law, and general insurance coverage and litigation. In 2007, Ms. Lee graduated magna cum laude from the Clemson University Honors College at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Ms. Lee received her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2010. During law school, Ms. Lee concentrated on Advocacy & Dispute Resolution, which allowed her to participate in the law school's Advocacy Clinic. Ms. Lee was the Managing Editor of Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law and Vice President of the Student Bar Association.
Ms. Lee is a construction surety lawyer and has represented numerous clients with respect to every aspect of surety law, including takeovers and relets, bond claim analysis, bankruptcy matters and litigation in various courts in the Southeast. Ms. Lee also represents clients in matters involving general construction law and miscellaneous surety bonds. Ms. Lee has the unique perspective of being both a litigator and a transactional attorney, having both courtroom and arbitration experience and having represented clients in large scale workouts. Additionally, Ms. Lee assists insurers with preliminary coverage analysis and coverage dispute litigation involving a variety of insurance policies, from commercial general liability policies to fidelity bonds.
Ms. Lee is a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association and is active in the Surety and Fidelity Law Committee of the Torts, Trial & Insurance Practice Section of the ABA. Ms. Lee is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and is currently Vice-Chair of FSLC's Construction Law Subdivision. Ms. Lee is a graduate of the TIPS Leadership Academy and has been recognized as a "Rising Star" in the area of insurance coverage by Mid-South Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, since 2013.
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
Michael Collins is a principal with Manier & Herod, practicing in the areas of bankruptcy law, business recovery, trusteeships / receiverships, surety law, and commercial litigation. Mr. Collins brings to each engagement a unique blend of legal and financial advisory expertise for the benefit of his clients. Mr. Collins is AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell, meaning that Mr. Collins' peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence in the practice of law.
Mr. Collins' legal background encompasses many different roles. He is a Certified Business Bankruptcy Law Specialist by the American Board of Certification. He is a former Assistant U.S. Trustee for the U.S. Department of Justice with over 20 years of litigation experience. Over the course of his career, he has regularly represented debtors, creditors, trustees, and receivers in federal and state courts throughout the United States, and internationally including many "mega" bankruptcy cases (e.g., WorldCom, K-Mart, F Genon Energy, Inc., ITT Tech, Inc., PES Holdings, LLC, Payless Holdings LLC, SunEdison, Inc., Peabody Energy Corporation, Isolux Corsan, and Abengoa, S.A).
Mr. Collins' financial advisory background is extensive. He is a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA) by the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors, and received the Kroll Zolfo Cooper / Randy Waits CIRA Bronze Medal for achieving the third highest score nationally on the CIRA examination for 2006. He was formerly a business recovery consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, providing bankruptcy-related financial advisory services to a diverse set of companies, including Federal Mogul Corporation and Enron Corporation.
Mr. Collins' educational background includes a J.D. from Samford University and an M.B.A. in Finance from Vanderbilt University, graduating with honors in both curriculums. Mr. Collins also has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Mr. Collins has been selected as a 2018 Mid-South Super Lawyer in the area of bankruptcy.
Mr. Collins has been appointed chapter 11 trustee and receiver for numerous operating businesses with exceptional results. His trustee and receivership engagements include Sabre Defence Industries, LLC (gun manufacturer), Advocacy & Resources Corporation (food manufacturing & packaging), Tri Star Aluminum, LP (aluminum processing), Bill Mace Homes (construction), Direct Scaffold Services, Inc. (sales and leasing), Alliance Leasing Corporation (vehicle leasing and sales), United Shows of America, Inc. (carnival entertainment and event facilities) and Living Hope Southeast, LLC (behavioral health services), Stop Alarms Holdings, Inc. (security services provider).
Mr. Collins is an active member of the Nashville community. He is a Past President of both the Mid-South Commercial Law Institute and the Sertoma Club of Nashville. He is a former Chairman of the Bankruptcy Court Section of the Tennessee Bar Association. He is active in the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors, the Turnaround Management Association, and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
Michael L. Haynie is a principal with Manier & Herod. For over 20 years, he has specialized in representing employers and insurers in workers' compensation claims. Mr. Haynie graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Auburn University and earned his Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mr. Haynie is admitted to practice law in Tennessee and Florida. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association, Mid-South Workers' Compensation Association, and the Defense Research Institute. Mr. Haynie is also a member and current president of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association. Mr. Haynie also serves on the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry's Human Resources Committee. Mr. Haynie was a contributing editor of Manier & Herod's Tennessee Workers' Compensation: The Ultimate Guide.
Mr. Haynie is frequently called upon to draft and advise on workers' compensation legislation in the Tennessee General Assembly and has authored amicus briefs filed in the Tennessee Supreme Court on behalf of the business community. He is also actively involved in forums and rule making proceedings at the Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation. In recognition of his contributions to the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Law, Mr. Haynie received the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association 2016 Defense Lawyer of the Year award.
Practice Areas
Workers' Compensation
Job Titles:
- Associate / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Associate With
Peyton Carr is an associate with Manier & Herod primarily practicing in workers' compensation.
Peyton is a Tennessee native and a two-time graduate of the University of Tennessee. As an undergraduate, she studied Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice and Spanish. As a part of her undergraduate Spanish studies, she spent a summer living in Barcelona and traveling throughout Europe. After graduating with her bachelor's degree, Peyton worked for the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility before returning to Knoxville to obtain her law degree. While in law school she served as a Research Editor for the Tennessee Law Review and as the Executive Editor for the Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy. Prior to joining Manier & Herod, Peyton clerked for the Honorable Judge Arnold Goldin for the Tennessee Court of Appeals in Memphis. Peyton is a member of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association.
In her spare time, Peyton enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, friends, and her cats, Molly and Charlie. Her Saturdays in the fall are typically spent cheering on her Tennessee Vols.
Practice Areas
Workers' Compensation
Rhoberta Orsland is an associate with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the area of workers' compensation. Ms. Orsland earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2002, with a concentration in Business Transactions. Prior to law school, Ms. Orsland received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rhodes College. During law school, Ms. Orsland served as Articles Editor on the Tennessee Law Review. Ms. Orsland clerked for Justice Janice Holder with the Tennessee Supreme Court after law school and also served as the staff attorney for Judges Jim Umsted and Deana Seymour with the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims. Ms. Orsland is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and Memphis Bar Association. Ms. Orsland co-owns Liberation Escape Rooms in Southaven, MS, and in her free time, she is active in her church, All Saints Presbyterian, and enjoys singing and songwriting.
Job Titles:
- Associate / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Associate With
S. Marc Buchman is an associate with Manier & Herod practicing in the areas of bankruptcy law, surety law, and commercial litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Buchman gained invaluable experience in bankruptcy law while clerking for the Honorable M. Ruthie Hagen of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee and then for the Honorable Bonnie L. Clair of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
A self-described bankruptcy nerd, Mr. Buchman got his start in bankruptcy law while attending law school at the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he graduated cum laude, and working in its Federal Practice Bankruptcy Clinic, which provided pro bono legal services to low-income individuals seeking a fresh start. While working at the clinic, Mr. Buchman successfully negotiated with creditors for the return of preferential payments garnished from his client's pay prior to filing for bankruptcy. While Mr. Buchman now focuses primarily on business and commercial bankruptcy, producing the check for the returned garnished wages and bringing his client to genuine tears, knowing how much the funds were desperately needed, remains his proudest accomplishment.
Originally from northeast Arkansas, Mr. Buchman attended Arkansas State University for undergrad, where he studied philosophy and economics. Mr. Buchman later attended Northern Illinois University and received a master's degree in philosophy with a focus on logic and the philosophy of science. Mr. Buchman now rigorously applies the logical skills honed while studying philosophy and economics to his legal practice.
In his free time Mr. Buchman enjoys exploring Nashville, supporting Arsenal and Nashville SC, and watching anything and everything Star Wars related.
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
Sam H. Poteet, Jr. is a principal with Manier & Herod, practicing in the areas of surety law, financial institution bonds, fidelity law, D&O and E&O insurance, taxation, estate and business law. Mr. Poteet received his Bachelor of Science from Tennessee Technological University in 1979 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1982. Mr. Poteet has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1986. He is a Nashville Bar Foundation Fellow.
Mr. Poteet is a frequent speaker at the American Bar Association, Fidelity Law Association, and Southern Surety & Fidelity Claims Association meetings. Mr. Poteet was the Chair of the American Bar Association Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section's Fidelity & Surety Law Committee in 2011. Mr. Poteet has handled surety claims and workouts/bankruptcies for numerous sureties. He also handles fidelity and financial institution bond claims. In addition, Mr. Poteet has represented clients in numerous purchase and sale transactions of business. Mr. Poteet also handles estate tax planning for large estates, most of which have involved closely-held businesses.
Mr. Poteet was the 2017 Chair of the American Bar Association's Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) and also served as a Council Member and Officer.
Practice Areas
Commercial and Professional Liability Insurance Coverage
Job Titles:
- Member of the American Bar Association
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
A native Nashvillian, Sarah Hardison Reisner is a principal with Manier & Herod practicing in litigation and specializing in Workers' Compensation Law for over 28 years. Mrs. Reisner received her Bachelors of Arts and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from The University of Richmond in 1991. After working in the Outstanding Scholars Program at the U.S. Department of Education for two years in Washington D.C. (1991 - 1993), she earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1996. While in law school, Mrs. Reisner was a member of the Constitutional Law Moot Court team, a Student Materials Editor on the Tennessee Law Review, and she co-authored a published article on Constitutional Law in Tennessee.
Mrs. Reisner is regularly asked to present on Workers' Compensation Law at the annual Tennessee Bureau educational convention. She is also a regular speaker at the annual Workers Compensation Institute (WCI) educational convention in Orlando. In 2022, she was nominated for the Tennessee Bureau's "Sue Ann Head award for "Excellence in Workers' Compensation" and named one of 3 top finalists. She is co-author of the firm's published book, "Tennessee Workers' Compensation: The Essential Guide", with a newly released Fifth Edition of the publication. Mrs. Reisner represents Employers, self-insured Employers, third-party administrators, and insurance carriers throughout the State of Tennessee on the defense and handling of their Workers' Compensation claims and is a frequent speaker to client groups and professional organizations on topics related to Tennessee Worker's Compensation Law.
A veteran in the courtroom, Mrs. Reisner is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Nashville Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Tennessee Defense Lawyers' Association, the Mid-South Workers' Compensation Association, and the Downtown Rotary Club of Nashville.
Practice Areas
Workers' Compensation
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association
- Shareholder / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Scott C. Williams is a shareholder with Manier & Herod. Mr. Williams practices in the areas of bankruptcy/insolvency, business, corporate, real estate, surety, and trusts/estates. Mr. Williams handles business acquisition and sale transactions, real estate sale and lease transactions, as well as financing and collateralization transactions for individuals, businesses, lenders, trusts and sureties.
Mr. Williams represents sureties in distressed contractor/account transactions and workouts, inter-creditor transactions, surety credit facilities, bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, co-surety transactions, and in connection with bond claims (payment, performance, commercial) and indemnity matters both domestically and internationally. Mr. Williams has represented sureties in virtually every aspect of surety law and in relation to disputes, bankruptcies and insolvency matters arising in a number of states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Mr. Williams' international surety experience includes work on surety matters in Brazil and Canada, and in insolvency proceedings in Spain.
Mr. Williams is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Missouri, and Virginia, and is admitted to all State and Federal Courts in those states.
Mr. Williams is a member of the Fidelity & Surety Law Committee of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association, and serves as a Vice Chair of its Underwriting and Risk Management Law Division. Along with industry colleague Gina Lockwood, Mr. Williams co-founded Surety School for new surety professionals, and Surety News, a program designed to promote the surety profession, its members, and events.
Mr. Williams received his B.A. in International Studies in 1995 from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Williams received his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2001, from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he was selected for membership in Curia Honor Society.
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
Job Titles:
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
Steele Cantey is a principal with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the areas of business and corporate law, taxation, sophisticated estate and business succession planning, and real estate law.
Mr. Cantey assists businesses of all types and sizes with a variety of matters in areas such as entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, ownership restructuring, general operations, ownership disputes, business divorces, and general business planning. He has experience negotiating a wide range of contracts for businesses of all sizes, including employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, asset purchase agreements, stock purchase agreements, cross-purchase agreements, purchase and sale agreements for tangible and intangible property, lease agreements, employee equity options agreements, and settlement agreements.
Mr. Cantey also advises individuals on tax issues and asset protection issues related to estate and business succession planning and assists clients in developing a personalized estate plan that is tailored to fit their specific needs. In connection with implementing estate plans for clients, Mr. Cantey advises clients on implementing their charitable goals, including the formation and general operation of public charities, private operating foundations, and private non-operating foundations. In addition, Mr. Cantey advises individuals and businesses on a variety of real estate matters such as purchase and sale transactions and commercial and residential leasing activities, including compliance with the Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Act.
Mr. Cantey received his Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Business, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee during which time he worked with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in the area of wealth management. In 2015, Mr. Cantey received his Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law, where he specialized in transactional law. During law school, Mr. Cantey worked as a summer clerk with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, as well as the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in Atlanta, Georgia, where he argued motions in front of the Superior Court.
Practice Areas
Commercial Finance
Job Titles:
- Association, Secretary - Treasurer
- Association, Secretary - Treasurer, 1989, President - Elect, 1990, President, 1991
- Lawyers Association, Board Member
- Lawyers Association, Fall Conference Chair, 2012
- Lawyers Association, Middle Tennessee Vice - President
- Lawyers Association, Middle Tennessee Vice - President, 1988
- Lawyers Association, President
- Lawyers Association, President - Elect
- Lawyers Association, President Emeritus
- Lawyers Association, President, 1971 - Present
- Lawyers Association, Vice President
Job Titles:
- Insurers' Association, Member
Job Titles:
- Retired / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Retired Former Partner
Terry L. Hill is a retired former partner at Manier & Herod. Mr. Hill received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Tennessee, and was Associate Editor of the Tennessee Law Review. He was admitted to the Bar in 1977.
Mr. Hill drafted a substantial part of the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Reform Act of 1992 and many significant workers' compensation statutes since that time. In his position as Executive Director of the Tennessee Self-Insurers' Association from 2006 to 2013, Mr. Hill spearheaded the reform effort for Tennessee workers' compensation law. He was Editor-in-Chief of Tennessee Workers' Compensation: The Essential Guide, first, second, third and fourth editions. Mr. Hill was named 2015 "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America in the category of Workers' Compensation Defense Attorneys. He was also selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America each year since 1995 in the category of Workers' Compensation Defense Attorneys. Mr. Hill was selected as one of the Mid-South Super Lawyers in the area of workers' compensation, and was named as an AV Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell for seventeen consecutive years. He has held seats on the Workers' Compensation Advisory Committee and the Comparative Fault Advisory Committee of the Tennessee State Legislature. Mr. Hill was a member of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, where he served as President, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer, and also served on the Board of Directors. He was a member of the Nashville Bar Association and served as chairman of their Medico-Legal Committee, and was a Fellow in the Nashville Bar Foundation.
Mr. Hill has several published articles, including an article in the Insurance Law Review. He was also a member of the Tennessee Bar Association and was a member of the Defense Research Institute, in addition to having served for three years as Chairman of the Workers' Compensation Section of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel. He was a member of the Southern Association of Workers' Compensation Administrators, and was also a member of the Mid-South Workers' Compensation Association where he served as Vice-President. His law practice was in workers' compensation and insurance litigation.
Education
University of Tennessee College of Law
Job Titles:
- Member of the Nashville
- Principal / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Principal With
Tommy C. Estes is a principal with Manier & Herod practicing extensively in the tax and corporate areas of the law with special emphasis on estate planning and tax planning for closely-held corporations and medical groups. Mr. Estes received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee in 1973 and his law degree from Memphis State University in 1978. Mr. Estes received his license as a Certified Public Accountant in 1976.
Mr. Estes was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1979. Mr. Estes is a member of the Nashville, Tennessee and American Bar Associations, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Nashville Estate Planning Council and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).
Mr. Estes has been named a Mid-South Super Lawyer in the area of Estate Planning & Probate since 2007.
Practice Areas
Estate Planning and Probate
Job Titles:
- Associate / Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Associate With
- Member of the American Bar Association
William Gass is an associate with Manier & Herod practicing primarily in the areas of surety law, business and corporate law, and taxation. Mr. Gass received his Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2024. While Mr. Gass earned his J.D., he served as Senior Commentary Editor for the Tennessee Journal of Business Law. Mr. Gass is admitted to practice law in Tennessee.
Prior to law school, Mr. Gass was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, providing international tax consulting services. Mr. Gass is a licensed CPA in the state of Georgia. He earned his Master of Accountancy with a special focus in taxation from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2018. Mr. Gass earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Accounting with an International Business concentration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2017.
Mr. Gass is a member of the American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and Nashville Bar Association. In his free time, Mr. Gass enjoys spending time cooking and being outdoors with his wife.
Practice Areas
Estate Planning and Probate