BOARD OF GOVERNORS

CBA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE


2025 CBA PRESIDENT Mark Litchford of

Litchford Pearce and Associates

Mark is a founding member of Litchford, Pearce & Associates, PLLC. Mark is licensed to practice in Tennessee and Georgia and concentrates his practice in government law, commercial litigation, estate planning (wills & trusts), real property, personal injury, business transactions, and criminal defense. In 2016, Mark was named a “2016 Rising Star” by Super Lawyers of Thomson Reuters and in 2020 was nominated for inclusion in the 2020 SuperLawyers Profile published by Thomson Reuters. Mark has extensive trial experience in representing clients in a variety of areas, including governmental regulations, personal injury, criminal defense, federal and state constitutional law, real property disputes, and public records and annexation actions.  Mark also serves as general representation counsel to various companies involved in the following markets: oil & lubricant distribution, logistic freight, restaurant, medical, and real estate.  The services provided to these companies include labor & employment counseling, collections, contract negotiations, and member/shareholder agreements. Mark also represents and/or serves as trustee for various trusts in connection with estate planning services.


PRESIDENT ELECT KEITH H. GRANT OF

ROBINSON SMITH & WELLS

Keith H. Grant graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1998, where he was a member of the Honors Program. He received his law degree from Louisiana State University in 2001. He received his license to practice law in the State of Louisiana in October 2001 and remained there until December 2003, practicing in both state and federal courts, with a primary focus on labor and employment law. Mr. Grant joined Robinson, Smith & Wells in 2010 and became a partner in 2014. He is licensed to practice in Tennessee and has been admitted to practice in state and federal Courts, including the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Grant’s litigation practice focuses on healthcare liability defense and municipality defense, where he represents healthcare professionals, municipalities and municipal employees. He also represents defendants in general personal injury litigation as well as in criminal matters. Mr. Grant was previously a member of the Brock-Cooper Inns of Court chapter located in Chattanooga and is currently a member of the Chattanooga Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association. Mr. Grant served as adjunct faculty at Chattanooga State Technical Community College for approximately four years where he taught a course entitled “Introduction to Legal Process”. Mr. Grant is an Elder at Rivermont Presbyterian Church and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti.


BOARD MEMBER KATHERINE LENTZ OF GRANT KONVALINKA AND HARRISON

Katherine Lentz is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee who joined the firm in 2004. Katherine was previously a summer associate with Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison during law school. She attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Studio Art, with a minor in Art History. Katherine attended the Publishing Institute at New York University before obtaining her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she was a student-attorney in the Domestic Violence Clinic. Katherine is a member of the Chattanooga and Tennessee Bar Associations, as well as the Southeast Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women. She is admitted to practice in Tennessee and Georgia and before the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee. Katherine is the immediate past President of the Brock-Cooper American Inn of Court and is currently serving a second term on the Board of Governors for the Chattanooga Bar Association. Katherine’s practice focuses on family law, alternative dispute resolution, and litigation. She strives to provide the best representation for individuals and families during some of the most difficult times of life. Katherine is designated as Rule 31 Listed Family Law Mediator by the Tennessee Supreme Court and enjoys helping litigants resolve their issues outside of litigation. Katherine is married to Jason Lentz and has two daughters. She enjoys being outdoors, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.


TREASURER ROBIN MILLER,

CLERK AND MASTER OF HAMILTON COUNTY, TENNESSEE


IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT STEVEN E. SMITH OF THE

HAMILTON COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE

Steve Smith is currently the elected Public Defender of the 11th Judicial District. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Tennessee Public Defender's Conference. While public defenders nationwide have historically and chronically suffered a lack of resources and manpower, during his first term Steve expanded the number of attorneys from 13 to 21, all who help indigent residents of Hamilton County navigate the criminal justice system. Accounting for the representation of 86% of all defendants with criminal cases serious enough to retain counsel, Steve's office typically opens and closes 10,000 case files annually. In addition, the Office of the 11th oversaw the creation and establishment of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Mental Health Court, and staffs the many recovery courts to divert as many people as possible directly into treatment and rehabilitation. Previously, Steve served as an assistant district attorney trying cases to juries in Division 1 of Criminal Court, served as a member of a small litigation firm and as an associate of a state wide firm. A graduate of the University of Memphis Law School, he also holds a B.S. degree in Geology, is a board member of the Bachman Community Center, an enthusiastic Big Brother and a fledgling sailor, gardener and musician.


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EX-OFFICIO LYNDA MINKS HOOD OF THE CHATTANOOGA BAR ASSOCIATION

Lynda Minks Hood is in her twenty-seventh year as Executive Director of the Chattanooga Bar Association. She received her education from Girls Preparatory School and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She received her certified General and Advanced Mediation Training Certificate in 1998.  

Lynda's current professional memberships include:  ROTARY Club of Chattanooga (Paul Harris Fellow in 2010 and 2018); the National Association of Bar Executives ; American Bar Association ; the Tennessee and American Society of Association Executives ; National Association of Female Executives ; South East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women; Public Relations Society of America; Association for Fundraising Professionals; and Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute.  Social memberships include the Black Creek Country Club, and the Walden Club. Lynda was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to serve on the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education for a three-year term until 2022. She was appointed by County Mayor Jim Coppinger to serve as a Tri-Chair for the "Hamilton County Women's Suffrage Yellow Rose Committee" for the 100th Celebration of the 19th Amendment for 2020. Lynda currently served as Chairwoman of the Erlanger Health System Foundation from 2018 through December 2020 and is currently serving as Past Chair. She is married to Michael Hood and they have a daughter, Lauren. They live in Chattanooga and attend the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.

CBA BOARD MEMBERS


BOARD MEMBER LARRY CASH OF MILLER & MARTIN

Larry L. Cash is a member of the Firm, and focuses his practice primarily in the representation of both public bodies and private businesses in a wide range of legal matters. His experience includes the defense of corporate entities in product liability claims, commercial litigation, OSHA compliance and investigations and related matters. He provides representation of owners and contractors in all areas of construction, including contract drafting and litigation. In addition to representing corporate bodies in administrative and contested matters, he has extensive experience in working with both state and federal agencies in regulatory matters. Mr. Cash also represents a captive association insurance company which provides all lines of insurance coverage for both municipal and cooperative utility companies in the southeastern United States. This practice covers all aspects of commercial investigation, compliance and litigation, whether it is defense of a particular insured or review and analysis of insurance coverage issues. Mr. Cash is admitted in the State courts of Tennessee and Georgia, as well as United States District Courts in Tennessee and Northern Georgia.


BOARD MEMBER ZACHARY W. ENGLAND OF ENGLAND INJURY LAW

Zack W. England is a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He received his B.A. degree in English magna cum laude. Mr. England obtained his doctorate of jurisprudence from the University of Cincinnati in 2008. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Georgia.

Mr. England has represented individuals who were injured by others in car accidents, work injuries, dog bites, medical malpractice, and other various acts. Mr. England also has experience with criminal, bankruptcy, and probate matters.Mr. England's practice is devoted to helping those who have been wronged by the negligent acts of others.


BOARD MEMBER E. BO HIXSON OF CHARTWELL LAW

For over 35 years, Everett (Bo) Hixson Jr. has practiced in Tennessee and Georgia on behalf of individual and corporate clients. He has extensive experience in general commercial litigation, including business disputes, real estate, construction, and personal injury. He has asserted creditor’s rights in bankruptcy and state court on behalf of financial institutions, shopping centers, and commercial property managers and owners. His diverse practice includes representing individuals in corporate dissolutions and litigation between franchisees and franchisors. Bo’s real estate practice includes conducting foreclosures and litigating wrongful foreclosures against and on behalf of lenders and loan servicers. He frequently represents buyers, sellers, and realtors in real estate transactions as well as title insurance companies and property owners in title disputes and boundary line issues. Bo represents homeowner associations in Tennessee and Georgia, including the preparation and enforcement of covenants, conditions and restrictions in both states. In the area of construction litigation, Bo represents developers, owners, architects, and contractors with various construction defaults, liens, defects and other disputes arising out of the development of commercial properties, subdivisions, PUDs, and residences. His regulatory experience includes representing architects and engineers before professional licensing boards. Bo’s landlord and tenant practice involves representing commercial and residential property owners and managers with various tenant defaults and disputes. He represents theaters, restaurants, shopping centers, and hotels regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act claims and defends premises liability claims, including inadequate security, personal injury, and third-party criminal actions. His personal injury practice involves the representation of victims arising out of automobile, school bus and tractor-trailer collisions. Additionally, Bo has extensive appellate practice experience with over two dozen reported decisions in Tennessee and Georgia courts and U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts.


BOARD MEMBER C. SCOTT JOHNSON OF

SPEARS MOORE REBMAN & WILLIAMS, PC

President - Elect C. Scott Johnson

Scott Johnson is a Tennessee trial lawyer who has litigated cases throughout Tennessee and the 6th Circuit of the United States Courts for over two decades. He often serves as a Tennessee Rule 31 listed General Civil Mediator on all types of legal disputes. He cheers for the University of Tennessee and the University of Memphis. Scott has achieved the Martindale Hubbell highest rating (AV) from his peers and judges.


BOARD MEMBER LANCE W. POPE OF

PATRICK BEARD SCHULMAN & JACOWAY

Lance joined the firm after more than ten years as a prosecutor at the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office where he most recently held the position of Executive Assistant District Attorney. While at the District Attorney’s Office, Lance handled numerous high profile trials and worked alongside all major state and federal law enforcement agencies including the Chattanooga Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Since joining the firm, Lance has utilized his experience as a litigator and his business background as head financial officer for a technologies company to assist the firm’s business clients with a variety of matters including LLC member disputes. Lance also assist businesses that receive inquiries or investigative requests from law enforcement agencies and often represents individuals in a wide variety of criminal defense matters. Lance is an avid outdoorsman that enjoys Chattanooga’s access to world class trail running, mountain and road biking, fly fishing and rock-climbing.


BOARD MEMBER NICOLE WATSON OF HOLLAND & KNIGHT

Nicole Watson is an attorney and senior policy advisor based in Holland & Knight's Chattanooga office and also handles work out of the firm's Nashville office. Ms. Watson is recognized for her leadership and judgment in developing and executing effective legislative and government relations strategies across Tennessee and the Southeast. She represents the interests of corporate clients, industry groups, professional associations and not-for-profit organizations before elected officials in the Tennessee General Assembly and government officials in numerous local, state and federal agencies.

Ms. Watson's experience includes drafting and negotiating legislation, assisting with regulatory and rulemaking compliance strategy and traditional lobbying to the state legislature, the state executive branch, congressional representatives, state and federal agencies, city councils, county officials and community leaders. Additionally, she monitors legislative developments and educates clients on legislative processes, procedures and progress. Ms. Watson has vast experience assisting clients on strategic risk management and communication planning. She also manages political action committees (PACs) and fundraising programs for clients and provides guidance on grassroots advocacy efforts and the development of coalitions.

Previously, Ms. Watson led government relations, public policy and economic development initiatives for a Chattanooga-based law firm. Earlier in her career, she gained valuable government and regulatory affairs experience with Tennessee American Water Company and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council.

While attending law school, she served as a federal government affairs summer associate for the National Rifle Association and a government relations intern for a leading bipartisan government relations firm in Washington, D.C. Before attending law school, she served as a congressional intern on Capitol Hill for Sens. George Allen (R-Va.) and John Warner (R-Va.).

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