New Bar Leadership in Tennessee Announced

The Tennessee Bar Association has named patent attorney Edward D. Lanquist Jr. of Baker Donelson in Nashville, 2024 President of the Tennessee Bar Association.  

Mr. Lanquist's legal practice focuses on patent, trademark, and copyright litigation, intellectual property counseling, trademark prosecution, and technology law. With more than 30 years of practicing intellectual property (IP) law, he has legal experience with a variety of IP issues. He has prosecuted more than 150 patent applications and more than 1,400 trademark registration applications.

The Nashville Bar Association has named Nashville attorney Bahar Azhdari 2024 President of the Nashville Bar Association.

Azhdari serves as Associate General Counsel – Labor and Employment for Brookdale Senior Living Inc., where she provides advice and counsel on labor and employment issues and strategic initiatives for Brookdale’s approximately 37,000 associates and handles administrative matters and manages litigation for the operating divisions she represents; she also helped create and leads the inclusion and diversity team. Azhdari received a dual undergraduate degree in International Studies and Middle Eastern Studies from Emory University and her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law.

The Chattanooga Bar Association has named Hamilton County public defender Steve Smith, 2024 President of the Chattanooga Bar Association. 

Smith manages an office of 20 lawyers and 10 staff members, who represent all clients appointed by the courts of the 11th Judicial District. He advises the legislature regarding laws affecting the criminal justice system. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Tennessee Public Defender's Conference. Smith received his J.D. degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis.

The Knoxville Bar Association has named University of Tennessee Law professor Carlos A. Yunsan 2024 President of the Knoxville Bar Association. 

Yunsan has been teaching first-year courses in predictive and persuasive legal writing since 2018. His teaching approach is informed by his experience in the state appellate courts as well as several years of practice as a civil litigator with regional and local law firms. His scholarly interests include diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, the impact of civics education and social media literacy on the legal system, and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in society. Professor Yunsan received his J.D. degree from the University of Tennessee.