Attorneys Archive - Farrar Bates Berexa

Grace Patton

admin — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 19:25:20 +0000

Grace joined Farrar Bates Berexa in 2024 and primarily practices civil rights defense. Prior to joining the firm, she worked in education law at the K-12 and postsecondary levels, specializing in Title IX, disability and civil rights compliance.

Grace earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2017 and her law degree from Belmont University College of Law in 2022.

Grace’s professional experiences include serving as a judicial clerk for the Hon. Richard Dinkins of the Tennessee Court of Appeals and interning with general counsel at the Tennessee State Board of Education. She also taught seventh grade as a Teach for America Corps Member from 2017 to 2019.

Education:

Belmont University College of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 2022
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Bachelor of Arts, 2017

Admissions:

State of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

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Mary Clark Herrod

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 18:53:12 +0000

Mary Clark joined Farrar Bates Berexa in 2023 and her practice areas include civil rights defense, employment law, governmental tort liability defense, land use and zoning law, municipal liability defense, and real estate errors and omission defense.

Mary Clark obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Vanderbilt University Law School. In 2019, she graduated magna cum laudefrom Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in French and general business.

Education:

Vanderbilt University Law School, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 2023
Samford University, Bachelor of Arts, 2019

Admissions:

State of Tennessee (2023)
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (2024)
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee (2024)
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2024)

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Rebecca Moore

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:17:40 +0000

Rebecca joined Farrar Bates Berexa in 2013 as a paralegal to attorney Jennifer Orr Buchanan. This experience ignited Rebecca’s passion for workers’ compensation.

After graduating law school in 2022, she began serving with Farrar Bates Berexa as an attorney, primarily practicing in the areas of general workers’ compensation defense, municipal government workers’ compensation defense, automotive workers’ compensation defense, workers’ compensation on behalf of employees, and insurance subrogation. Rebecca also practices in the areas of municipal liability defense and real estate errors and omissions defense.

Rebecca received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Nashville School of Law in 2022 and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Middle Tennessee State University in 2005.

She is a member of the American Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association.

A Nashville native, Rebecca and her husband, Noah, reside in Murfreesboro with their four children.

Education:

Nashville School of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 2022
Middle Tennessee State University, Bachelor of Arts in English, 2005

Admissions:

State of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

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A. Ryan Simmons

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 17:05:25 +0000

Ryan joined Farrar Bates Berexa in 2019. In his practice, he focuses on municipal law, employment law, employment discrimination and retaliation, general tort liability, municipal liability, and trial and appellate litigation. Ryan possesses a strong understanding of cases involving FLSA, FMLA, discrimination and whistleblower claims.

Prior to joining the firm, Ryan was an associate attorney at The Employment and Consumer Law Group in Nashville, Tennessee. He effectively resolved numerous employment claims through mediation and private settlement negotiations, and aided in the development and drafting of employment policies for local businesses to comply with applicable regulations and laws.

Ryan earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2012 from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in Denver, Colorado. He graduated magna cum laudefrom Lipscomb University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 2008. While at Lipscomb, he studied abroad in Vienna, Austria and London.

A Nashville native, Ryan enjoys traveling the world with his family in tow, and enjoys skiing, hiking and biking.

Education:

University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 2012
Lipscomb University, Bachelor of Arts in psychology, 2008

Admissions:

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Addison Russell

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 19:13:03 +0000

Addison joined Farrar Bates Berexa in 2016. In her practice, she specializes in the areas of real estate and government relations. Prior to joining the firm, Addison served as legislative director of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. She also previously served as a research analyst for the Tennessee General Assembly’s Senate State and Local Government Committee.

Addison earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2012, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Auburn University in 2009.

An active member of the Tennessee Bar Association and Government Affairs Committee, Addison resides with her husband, Matt, and their two young children in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

Education:

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 2012
Auburn University, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 2009

Admissions:

State of Tennessee

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Robyn B. Williams

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 15:53:52 +0000

Robyn joined Farrar Bates Berexa in 1999. She practices in the areas of governmental liability, police liability, governmental ordinances, and trial and appellate litigation. Robyn has had tremendous success in obtaining favorable outcomes on summary judgment at the trial level and through oral arguments before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Prior to joining the firm, Robyn clerked for the Chancery Court in Shelby County, Tennessee. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1998, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Memphis. Robyn is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association.

Education:

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 1998
University of Memphis, Bachelor of Arts

Admissions:

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Cassandra M. Crane

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:08:25 +0000

Casey Crane joined Farrar Bates Berexa in 2017. Her practice focuses on general civil litigation, including municipal liability defense, civil rights defense, police liability defense, governmental tort liability defense, employment law and discrimination, and trial and appellate litigation. She has had tremendous success in prevailing on summary judgment and negotiating favorable settlement agreements for her clients.

Prior to joining Farrar Bates Berexa, Casey worked as counsel for the commercial litigation and employment law departments at the McKellar Hyde, PLC firm. She also previously served as an associate for Meyers Nave, specializing in First Amendment and public law matters for public agency clients.

Casey obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2006 from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2002 from the University of North Alabama. She is licensed to practice in three states, as well as in both the Sixth and Ninth Circuits of the United States Court of Appeals.

Education:

John Marshall Law School, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 2006
University of North Alabama, Bachelor of Arts, 2002

Admissions:

State of Illinois (2006)
State of California (2013)
State of Tennessee (2016)
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States District Court for the Central District of California
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Supreme Court

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Laura A. Hight

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 15:48:08 +0000

Laura joined Farrar Bates Berexa in 2010 as an intern in the firm’s lobbying division. After graduating law school in 2013, she found her passion in litigation, specifically in real estate errors and omissions defense and land use and zoning. Laura also focuses her practice on civil rights defense, employment law, and governmental tort liability defense. Laura has successfully defended clients at the trial and appellate levels. She has been selected as Rising Star to the 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyer list.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Laura received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, cum laude, in 2007. She earned her J.D. in 2013 from the Nashville School of Law. In her downtime, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband, Justin, and their two young children.

Education:

Nashville School of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 2013
University of Tennessee, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, 2007

Admissions:

State of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

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Kristin E. Berexa

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 09:28:54 +0000

Kristin joined Farrar Bates Berexa in 1994. Her areas of practice include civil rights defense, law enforcement liability defense, municipal liability defense and employment law. She handles cases in both federal and state courts, as well as at both the trial and appellate level. Over the years, Kristin has handled a broad range of cases involving complex constitutional issues, police misconduct, officer-involved shootings, catastrophic accidents and employment related matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Kristin served as an assistant attorney general for the State of Tennessee Office of the Attorney General. Kristin received her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1991, where she graduated cum laude. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, cum laude, from Austin Peay State University in 1988.

In addition to practicing law, Kristin provides training seminars for her clients in all aspects of law enforcement liability and employer/employee relations. She has been a featured speaker at professional conferences on topics of municipal liability, police liability and employment law. She has been named to the Mid-South Super Lawyers.

Kristin and her husband, Dan, reside in Brentwood, where they raised their three children.

Education:

University of Tennessee College of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence, cum laude, 1991
Austin Peay State University, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, cum laude, 1988

Admissions:

State of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
United States Supreme Court

Presentations and Seminars:

Lorman Education Services Police Liability Seminar

Taser Liability Update
Application of Tennessee Open Records Act to Law Enforcement

Heritage Professional Publishing

Suing and Defending the Government

Public Entity Partners Annual Symposium

Police Pursuits under Federal and State Law
Municipal Courts and Suspension of Driver’s Licenses for Failure to Pay Traffic Debt
Employment Litigation and Governmental Entities
Use of Inmates on Municipal Work Projects
Law Enforcement Liability

Public Entity Partners – Partnering for Success Webinar Series

Mutual Aid and Assistance in Law Enforcement

Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association Seminar

Primer on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Municipal Liability for Police Misconduct

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J. Russell Farrar

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 19:08:27 +0000

Since 1992, Russ has served as a co-founder and senior partner at Farrar Bates Berexa, where he practices in the areas of insurance defense, municipal liability defense, civil rights defense, police liability defense, governmental tort liability defense, employment law, employment discrimination, workers’ compensation, administrative law, governmental relations, real estate errors and omissions, entertainment law, trial and appellate litigation, and business law. Since 2002, Russ has been rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™, the only nationally recognized attorney rating service, and he was the recipient of the 2018 William (Bill) Tune Award for Excellence in Real Estate Education from the Tennessee Real Estate Commission.

Prior to joining Farrar Bates Berexa, Farrar served as assistant commissioner and chief legal counsel for the Tennessee Department of Labor and as director of the Department of Labor’s Division of Employment Codes.

Russ obtained his Juris Doctor degree with high honors, Order of the Coif, from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1984. He received his Bachelor of Science degree with highest honors from the University of Tennessee in 1980.

Russ currently serves as general counsel and senior lobbyist for the 32,000-plus member Tennessee REALTORS®; general counsel for Public Entity Partners, which insures more than 90 percent of Tennessee’s local governments; and chairman of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development TOSHA Review Commission.

Education:

University of Tennessee College of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 1984

High Honors; Order of the Coif; Jurisprudence Award in Property, Family and Administrative Law

University of Tennessee, Bachelor of Science, 1980

Highest Honors

Admissions:

State of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Presentations and Seminars:

Frequent guest lecturer for the Tennessee Municipal Attorneys Association, the Tennessee Public Risk Management Association, the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and numerous realtor groups across the state

Publications:

Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, Tennessee Young Lawyers Journal (2000)
Liability of a Municipality for Injuries to a Passenger in a Fleeing Vehicle in a High-Speed Police Chase, Tennessee Bar Journal (2001)

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