Our Team

Biography

With more than 30 years of experience practicing law, Karen has represented and provided guidance to businesses and corporations of all sizes, industries, and market sectors, on a variety of legal issues and matters. She has served on crisis management and mass claim teams, authored multiple publications, taught seminars, and given presentations to industry groups and associations. In addition, she has served as a panel member on risk management, claims management, regulatory compliance, conflict resolution, and workplace teams addressing issues including conflict resolution and team building. Karen is also an experienced litigator who has tried cases before judges, juries, and administrative as well as arbitration tribunals.

Karen is active in her community and has served as an Oak Ridge representative on the Anderson County Economic Development Association Board and is a member of the Oak Ridge League of Women Voters. She is a member of the graduating class of Leadership Oak Ridge, and previously served as a member and former President of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland.  Karen currently serves as a volunteer mediator with the Knox County Community Mediation Service.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, all types of music and concerts, and traveling the world with her family and friends.

Education

B.S., University of Tennessee

M.S.W., Washington University, St. Louis

J.D., University of Tennessee College of Law

Courts

United States Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals

United States District Court, Eastern District Court of Tennessee

Tennessee State Courts

Awards & Honors

AV Preeminent Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence by Martindale-Hubbell

Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court, Hearing Officer (2014 – 2020)

Fellow of the American Bar Foundation

Fellow of the Tennessee Bar Association

Fellow of the Knoxville Bar Association

U.S. News & World Report, Recipient of Lawyer of the Year Award for Workers Compensation (2018)

Tennessee Lawyer’s Association for Women, President (2017–2018)

East Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women, President (2011); Spirit of Justice Award (2014)

Recognized in U.S. News & World Reports as a “Best Lawyers in America” (2015-present)

OECD-NEA International Nuclear Law Program in Paris, France (U.S. Delegate, 2013)