Catherine Dorvil, Christopher Hennen, Willa Kalaidjian, Andrew Leffler and Laura McKinney have become shareholders at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel. The new class of shareholders is the largest group of attorneys the law firm has promoted in the past decade and reflects Chambliss’ development of its next generation of diverse leaders.
Their respective practice areas cover litigation, health care, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and corporate governance and commercial transactions.
“Cathy, Chris, Willa, Andy, and Laura have significantly contributed to the growth and success of our firm. They are an integral part of our team, each with a unique and effective skill set, and deliver excellent results for our clients,” says Mike St. Charles, the firm’s managing shareholder. “They join our next generation of firm leaders who are dedicated to making a positive impact on our client service in this evolving business environment and competitive legal marketplace.”
Dorvil, a member of the firm’s litigation and health care sections, has extensive experience representing clients before administrative, state and federal courts. She regularly works to resolve disputes and address regulatory matters for a wide range of health care entities, educational institutions and nonprofits.
Before joining Chambliss, Dorvil worked as a commercial litigator for the national firm of Hogan Lovells US in Miami, where she was honored with the 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade County Award.
She currently serves on the board of directors for the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, the Chambliss Center for Children and the Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti, and is active with the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute and American Inns of Court.
Serving in the firm’s business and mergers and acquisitions sections, Hennen focuses his practice in the areas of general corporate matters, asset and stock purchase transactions, preparation and negotiation of commercial contracts, entity formation and structure, corporate governance, and similar corporate matters and business transactions.
His industry experience includes work with clients in the food and beverage, manufacturing, automotive, chemical, software, and sports and entertainment industries.
Hennen has served the community in various capacities, including as a board member for the local Susan G. Komen organization, as a member of the board for the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce’s Downtown Council, and as a co-founder and current active member of The Rotaract Club of Chattanooga.
As a founding member of Chambliss Startup Group, Hennen and Kalaidjian, also a founding member, collaborated with some of Chattanooga’s top entrepreneurial influencers and assisted a wide array of startup companies.
Kalaidjian chairs the Chambliss Startup Group and is a member of the firm’s business and real estate sections.
Entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies and investors turn to her for counsel on entity choice and incorporation, intellectual property and technology rights, and investment and commercial transactions.
In addition, she advises clients on commercial and business transactions, environmental matters, telecommunications and energy law, and real estate.
Kalaidjian regularly speaks and mentors at The Company Lab, a Chattanooga-based startup incubator, and is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association Environmental Law Section Executive Council, serving as chair of the section in 2016.
An integral member of Chambliss’ real estate section, Leffler advises regional and national clients on all sides of the deal, whether seller, buyer, lender, landlord, tenant or investor.
He also assists with issues and disputes that arise after the closing, including easement and reciprocal rights agreements, owners association issues and financial workouts.
Before joining Chambliss, he practiced law at a boutique real estate firm in New York City for seven years.
Leffler serves on the board for the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy and has participated in the tnAchieves program.
McKinney has over a decade of domestic and international transactional experience and practices in the firm’s business and mergers and acquisitions sections.
She advises clients on general corporate matters, asset and stock purchase transactions, preparation and negotiation of commercial contracts, entity formation, corporate governance, regulatory matters and family business succession planning.
She has experience advising clients in the manufacturing, energy, beverage, logistics, chemical and mining sectors.
Before joining Chambliss, McKinney practiced law at the international firm of Debevoise & Plimpton in New York, advising clients on complex cross-border transactions and joint ventures.
McKinney is an active member of the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership institute.
Source: Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel