2-Attorney Archives - Farrar Bates Berexa

Michael K. Dirks

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:47:33 +0000

Michael joined Farrar Bates Berexa in 2026 and brings more than 15 years of legal experience to the firm. His practice primarily focuses on governmental tort liability defense and civil rights defense.

Prior to joining the firm, Michael served as a partner at a general practice law firm in Wisconsin, where his practice focused on municipal prosecution, civil litigation and family law.

Michael earned his J.D. in 2004 from the University of Wisconsin Law School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2000 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

He is admitted to practice in Tennessee and Wisconsin, as well as the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin. His applications for admission to the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Tennessee are pending.

Education:

University of Wisconsin Law School, Doctor of Jurisprudence, 2004
University of Wisconsin – Madison, Bachelor of Science in psychology, 2000

Admissions:

State of Tennessee
State of Wisconsin
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee (pending)
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (pending)
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

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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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