About Darlene
Darlene practices with the firm’s Commercial Real Estate and Finance Group, as well as the Environmental Law Group. She is President of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys and is also a Member of the Boards of Directors of the Mid-South Commercial Law Institute and Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Darlene is a member of the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Bar Associations’ Environmental Law Section.
Darlene has recently lectured on the following topics: Environmental Claims in Recent Bankruptcy Cases:
When Does the Claim Arise after Grossman’s? When Does the Stay Apply after Apex?; The Subprime Meltdown: Recent Legislation and Litigation Arising From the Fiasco; and Brownfield Agreements: A Case Study of Rayon City Landfill.
Darlene has recently written on the following topics: Apex Oil Goes to Washington: A Challenge for the Supreme Court or Congress or Much Ado About Nothing? (Co-author with Lawrence R. Ahern, III, The Abstract, American College of Mortgage Attorneys, Fall, 2010 and September, 2010, Tennessee Bar Association’s Environmental Law Section Newsletter) 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, 2006, and 2011 for her work in Environmental Law as well as in 2007, 2008 and 2009 for her Commercial Real Estate work. In 2009, 2010 and 2011, she was also named a Mid-South Super Lawyer for Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy. She is listed as one of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Real Estate Law and recognized by Chambers Partners (USA) for Environmental Law.
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?
The Arthritis Foundation
What was your first job?
Babysitting
What are your hobbies?
Cycling 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.