About Darlene
Darlene practices with the firm’s Environmental Law Group, as well as Commercial, Real Estate and Finance. She is admitted to practice in Tennessee (1988) and Alabama (2008). Darlene is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association (Real Estate and Environmental Law Committees), the Nashville Bar Association (Environmental Law Committee), and the American Bar Association (Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, and Committee on Environmental Transactions and Brownfields).
Darlene is Secretary of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys and will succeed to the Presidency in 2012. She is also a Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-South Commercial Law Institute. Darlene is a Member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors and the Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women.
Darlene has recently lectured on the following topics: Commercial Real Estate Financing; Special Issues for Condominiums and Subdivision Developments in Tennessee; and Environmental Obligations in Bankruptcy.
Darlene has recently written on the following topics: Commercial Real Estate Financing (National Business Institute, April 9, 2008) (Co-author); Special Issues for Condominiums and Subdivision Developments in Tennessee (Lorman Education Services, March 26, 2008) (Co-author); and Environmental Obligations in Bankruptcy (L. Ahern and D. Marsh, Thomson & West Publications, Spring, 2009).
Darlene was recognized in the Nashville Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar” in 2004, 2005 and 2006 for her work in Environmental Law as well as in 2007, 2008 and 2009 for her Commercial Real Estate work. In 2009, she was also named to the Mid-South Super Lawyers list.
Darlene earned J.D., 1988, from Vanderbilt University and her B.S., with highest honors, 1983, from Tennessee State University.
What is your favorite thing about the law?
Developing client relationships.
What community projects are you involved in?
Second Harvest Food Bank.
What was your first job?
Waitress
What are your hobbies?
Cycling, playing Bridge and reading
What advice would you give to a young student in law school?
Study hard.
What is your favorite lawyer joke?
Lawyer jokes aren’t funny because everyone else believes they’re true!
How do you define a “good day?”
Helping our clients achieve their goals.
How do you spend your weekend?
If the weather is nice, out of doors as much as possible.