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Has anyone ever bet on your failure? When Bill Lowman started ShuffieldLowman 19 years ago, partners at his former firm predicted he wouldn’t succeed. He was a young partner with a still-growing book of business who was notoriously bad at entering and billing time. But thanks to strong mentors, the ability to learn from his mistakes, and the willingness to admit what he didn’t know, Bill created an incredibly successful mid-size firm in Central Florida. He shares that story plus sage advice on creating work/life harmony, the secrets to lobstering and even dares to pick a favorite Marvel movie. As a bonus, you get to hear Amanda interview her boss and boy was she nervous!
Bill Lowman is a founder and president of ShuffieldLowman, and a seasoned attorney in the areas of corporate, mergers & acquisitions, business taxation, securities, intellectual property, estate planning, planning for high- net-worth families, charitable trusts and foundations, families with closely held businesses, executive compensation planning and general tax law. Bill works with owners of businesses of many different sizes, from the small family business to many of the Top Golden 100 Companies in Central Florida, handling the legal intricacies of both their business and personal lives. Bill believes in building a real and trusting relationship with his clients, serving as more than just an attorney, but also an advisor, counselor, and confidante, offering his big-picture perspective and personal touch.
This week’s guest needs no introduction. As a long-time member and past president of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), Teresa Walker’s (CEO, Tennessee Private Trust Services) legacy precedes her. Teresa has been at the same law firm for 45 (yes, you read that right!) years and she’s on the mic this week with lots of knowledge to share.
When Teresa started in legal operations 45 years ago, most firms didn’t even have accounting programs to use. That’s just one example of what has changed throughout the legal industry during her career.
When she's not working in operations or advising law students how to sell themselves as associates, she’s focused on the blockchain industry or singing in a Southern Gospel Music Quartet.
You’ll want to tune in to hear what she has to say about that and what has changed in the legal industry over the years; some of it may even surprise you!
CEO, Tennessee Private Trust Services
Walker joined Nashville-based Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP, in 1977 fresh out of college, and has helped grow Waller from 16 attorneys to more than 250 with 5 offices in 3 states. She has opened and closed locations; upgraded accounting systems numerous times; handled endless HR issues; negotiated leases for and built out almost 200,000 square feet of office space in various locations; been involved in every aspect of the firm’s technology for years; worked with the Board and been involved in every aspect of Waller’s Board operations for almost 40 years; worked with compensation systems at all levels; partnered with nine managing partners to keep Waller vibrant helping develop and implement strategic plans. Currently, she is CEO of Tennessee Private Trust Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Waller, and is developing an additional subsidiary, Legal Solutions and Innovations. Walker understands the value of servant leadership.
Walker is a Past President of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) completing a three-year term on its Executive Committee of its Board of Directors and a six-year term on the ALA Board. Walker assumed the ALA President role in May 2015. She served on ALA’s Professional Development Advisory Committee from May 2018, to May 2021, serving as both Chair and Vice-Chair of the committee. She also belongs to ALA’s Large Firm Administrators Caucus, has served as a member of the Large Firm Administrators Steering and Education Committees, served as a Trustee of The Foundation of the Association of Legal Administrators, and was a member of the International Relations Committee of ALA. She is a Founding Member of the Middle Tennessee Association of Legal Administrators, which was chartered in 1980.
Inducted as a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management in 2014, Walker was selected in 2017 to join the College Board of Trustees and served as the College Treasurer and on the Executive Committee. She co-chaired the College’s 2019 and 2020 Futures Conferences. Walker also served on the LogicForce Advisory Board and was a co-founder of the Juris Users Group.
Walker was appointed to the Board of Global Legal Blockchain Consortium in July 2018. She is also a member of the Waller team that established TokenizeTN, a nonprofit trade organization created with a vision to realize the full potential of emerging technologies to drive a new era in Tennessee, with a particular focus on blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. Walker represents Waller as a member of Standards Advancement for the Legal Industry (SALI) organization. She graduated with a degree in Legal Secretarial Administration from Nashville Community College. She is a Southern Gospel music piano player, singer, and songwriter heading up a quartet that performs regularly, which she has been doing since high school.
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Thanks for tuning in! Join us back here in two weeks for episode 7.
Buckle your seatbelts, because there is a lot to unpack in this episode! Holly Pulido (Chief Operating Officer at Slack Davis Sanger LLP) and Eric Hightower, CLM SPHR (Director of Operations at Wright, Constable & Skeen, L.L.P.) take us through a jam-packed, 60-minutes’ worth of award-worthy entertainment. From uncovering the real myth behind the legal management profession and navigating mergers and acquisitions, to learning how to prioritize an onslaught of requests, this episode will remind you why you do what you do. And, as a bonus, you’ll also discover what really happens when the light bulb during a Kmart blue light special goes out... Take it from us, if the hosts of our show suddenly become Holly and Eric, you’ll know why!
Director of Operations, Wright, Constable & Skeen, LLP.
Eric L. Hightower is the Operations, Wright, Constable & Skeen, LLP. He is the principal administrator who manages the key areas of the firm's operations and shares the responsibility for the implementation of the strategic plan and practice management. He is an active member in various roles on both the local and national levels of the Association of Legal Administrators. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Legal Administrators and is a past president of the Maryland Chapter.
Eric has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College and is currently pursuing his Master in Business Administration (MBA). He also holds certifications as a Certified Legal Manager (CLM) as well as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Eric was awarded the distinction of an “Unsung Legal Hero” by the Maryland Daily Record and is a frequent speaker on the topic of best practices in legal management. Eric was also recognized by the National Association of Legal Administrators with the Volunteer of the Year Award. In his spare time, Eric enjoys spending time with his two daughters and grandchild, as well as traveling, hiking, and biking throughout the world.
Chief Operating Officer, Slack Davis Sanger LLP
Holly Pulido is the Chief Operating Officer, Slack Davis Sanger, LLP. in Austin, Texas. She has over 20 years of experience in all areas of legal administration and finance. She currently serves on the International Board of Directors of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA).
In 2020, she served on ALA's Chapter Resource Team and was President of the Austin, Texas Chapter in 2018. She is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
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Thanks for tuning in! Join us back here next week for episode 7 with Judy Hissong and April Campbell
