About the Authors
Susan K. Bilbro, Counsel
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Susie advises clients on all aspects of employee benefit plan design and administration. She counsels clients on employee welfare and pension benefits issues, both in connection with corporate transactions and on day-to-day administration.
Noah Black, Associate
Online Bio
Noah works with clients on the design, implementation and administration of qualified benefit plans, health and welfare benefit plans and deferred compensation packages. He also provides diligence and support on employee benefits and compensation issues arising in mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions. Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Noah worked with DOL in the Employee Benefits Security Administration where he investigated retirement plans and plan service providers to ensure compliance with Title I of ERISA and negotiated with fiduciaries to resolve ERISA violations.
Lymari Cromwell, Member
Online Bio
Lymari counsels clients in all aspects of employment and labor relations law, representing industries as diverse as healthcare, hospitality and manufacturing. Lymari’s practice is primarily transaction-based, in which she counsels companies with respect to labor and employment issues arising in the course of mergers and acquisitions. From medical leaves to background checks, Lymari helps employers keep in step with the constantly changing regulations that impact the workplace, and works to ensure correct interpretation and implementation of the laws.
Douglas W. Dahl II, Member
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Doug assists clients on all facets of employee benefits and executive compensation issues. He works with private and public companies on the creation, administration and compliance of qualified retirement plans and compensation packages. Drawing on his experience as an attorney with the IRS, Office of Chief Counsel, Doug represents companies in various interactions with the IRS, DOL, thePBGC and the DHHS.
Curtis L. Fisher, Member
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Curtis spends a large portion of his practice devoted to employee benefit and executive compensation matters related to merger and acquisition transactions. He also routinely advises clients on executive compensation matters, including the application of Section 409A to employment agreements, equity arrangements and non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements.
Davidson French, Member
Online Bio
Davidson has more than 20 years of experience as a labor and employment attorney. During his career at the firm, Davidson has represented management in all aspects of labor relations and employment law, including litigation of harassment and discriminatory claims. He works closely with several employers on day-to-day employee management and employee relations matters. In addition to his labor practice, Davidson currently serves as the General Counsel for Bass, Berry & Sims. Davidson is currently listed in The Best Lawyers in America®.
Tim K. Garrett, Member
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Tim serves as the editor of the Bass Berry HR Law Talk blog and is a former chair of the labor and employment practice. He has extensive experience representing and counseling employers in all aspects of employment discrimination and traditional labor law, including knowledge in wage and hour collective actions and leave of absence claims and issues. Tim’s experience and nationwide litigation practice have earned him recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® and Chambers USA.
Maja A. Hartzell, Associate
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Maja Hartzell represents employers in a range of labor and employment law matters, defending against claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation before federal and state courts and other administrative entities. She has experience defending clients against claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act, state whistleblowing statutes, along with the prosecution and defense of claims alleging breaches of restrictive covenants. In addition, Maja counsels employers on employee handbooks, employment agreements, and other employment policies and practices in response to and in compliance with developments in employment law.
Robert W. Horton, Member
Online Bio
Bob serves as chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice, drawing on his more than 20 years of experience to lead the team. Bob litigates and advises clients on a day-to-day basis regarding various employment-related issues, including discipline and discharge, discrimination and civil rights, sexual harassment, and non-competition agreements. He assists clients with various disability and leave issues under ADA and FMLA, wage and hour issues, drug and alcohol testing, veterans’ employment rights, union avoidance and other issues. Bob’s experience has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers USA and Mid-South Super Lawyers.
Ashley Li, Associate
Online Bio
Ashley advises clients related to all facets of employment and labor law. She provides counsel to employers on issues regarding wrongful termination, discrimination, employee discipline, defamation, harassment, and other matters. She also has experience representing clients in litigation matters related to compliance with state and federal employment law issues involving wage and hour violations and leave-related issues.
Kimia Movahed, Associate
Online Bio
Kimia counsels clients on the design, implementation and administration of qualified employee benefit plans, health and welfare benefit plans and deferred compensation packages. She also provides advice on employee benefits and compensation issues arising in mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions.
Mary Leigh Pirtle, Member
Online Bio
Mary Leigh helps employers navigate complicated and evolving employment law issues. She counsels clients on a wide range of day-to-day employment matters, and regularly conducts onsite internal investigations into allegations of employee misconduct. With experience in both traditional labor and employment litigation, Mary Leigh has represented employers against claims ranging from wage and hour violations to (EEOC violations.
Fritz Richter, III, Member
Online Bio
Fritz brings more than 30 years of experience counseling clients on employee benefit plan design and administration, and compliance with the IRS, PBGC and ERISA. With a foundation in the IRS’s Employee Plans and Chief Counsel’s Offices in Washington, D.C., Fritz has developed a broad employee benefits and executive compensation practice. Fritz has been recognized for his work in The Best Lawyers in America®and Mid-South Super Lawyers.
Catherine Simpson, Associate
Online Bio
Catherine works with clients on the design, administration, and compliance of qualified benefit plans, health and welfare benefit plans, and deferred compensation packages. She also provides diligence and support on employee benefits and compensation issues arising in corporate transactions. Catherine’s practice involves assisting with design, administration, and compliance of qualified retirement plans, including defined benefit plans, 401(k) and 403(b) plans, profit sharing plans, ESOPs, and nonqualified plan alternatives. Catherine also assists clients with qualified plan conversions, terminations, and corrections, as well counseling clients regarding compliance with IRS, DOL and PBGC laws and regulations applicable to employee benefit plans. Her practice also includes implementing and administering health and welfare plans, including compliance with the ACA, HIPAA, and COBRA.
David A. Thornton, Member
Online Bio | LinkedIn
David counsels clients with regards to compliance with IRS and DOL laws and regulations applicable to employee benefit plans as the fiduciary responsibilities of employers and trustees of employee benefit plans. He works with for-profit and nonprofit employers, plan fiduciaries, employees, third-party administrators, insurers and other providers of employee benefit plans and programs to design, implement and administer retirement plans, including pension, profit sharing, 401(k) plans and ESOPs, as well as other non-qualified plan alternatives. In addition, David counsels his clients on the complexities of compliance with the ACA, potentially saving them millions in Play or Pay penalties. David’s experience has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and Mid-South Super Lawyers.