Lawyers shift to 'Bama law firm

Raided firm says it's here to stay

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

Larry Ahern, formerly head of Greenebaum Doll's Nashville and Atlanta practices, moves to Burr & Forman

NashvillePost.com has learned that Birmingham-based law firm Burr & Forman has hired six local attorneys away from the local office of Louisville's Greenebaum Doll & McDonald.

Among the new hires is Larry Ahern, who was managing Greenebaum's presences in both Nashville and Atlanta. Burr & Forman's Nashville office will take over the office space Greenebaum formerly occupied.

The entry of Burr & Forman into the Nashville market is the first by a major out-of-state law firm since Louisiana's Adams & Reese acquired Stokes & Bartholomew last year.

Greenebaum, one of several out-of-town firms to set up local outposts in the past decade, will continue to maintain a presence in Nashville, according to its current member-in-charge Jeff McKenzie, based in Louisville. In a statement provided to NashvillePost.com, McKenzie said:

"Greenebaum Doll & McDonald will continue to have a strong presence in Nashville under the leadership of respected litigator Buck Cole. We established an office here in 1998 because Nashville is a vibrant, growing city, and that makes it a perfect fit with our forward-thinking business law firm."

Cole has been in the news of late since he was engaged, along with David Houston (see below) to defend asset manager Jane Cleveland in litigation with the family of ex-Dollar General CEO Cal Turner.

The six attorneys joining Burr and their areas of practice are:

Lawrence R. Ahern III, focusing on bankruptcy and commercial law. Ahern is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy and a director of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the American Board of Certification and the Turnaround Management Association. Before joining Greenebaum in 2002, he was at the Nashville firm of Gullett, Sanford, Robinson and Martin.

W. Davidson Broemel, joining the firm's insurance, litigation and government relations practice groups. Broemel is a former Boult Cummings attorney and has been a registered lobbyist.

Kevin M. Doherty, an insurance, entertainment and healthcare practitioner who joined Greenebaum in 2003.

David W. Houston IV, who will be a member of the firm's creditors' rights and commercial law practice groups. He too is a former Gullett Sanford attorney.

Sandra A. Keifert, who will be in B&F's healthcare and insurance practice groups. She will concentrates on healthcare fraud and abuse and insurance regulatory matters. Prior to joining Greenebaum, Keifert worked for Tennessee's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and was cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney to prosecute healthcare fraud.

Darlene T. Marsh, a member of the firm's environmental and real estate practice sections. She is a regent and fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys and a fellow ofcthe Nashville Bar Foundation. Before Greenebaum, Marsh was with Stokes Bartholomew Evans & Petree, where she chaired the environmental law team.

Burr & Forman has more than 170 attorneys in offices in Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery and Jackson, Miss. The firm traces its roots back to a firm founded in 1885 by one Walker Percy, a relative of Southern Renascence poet William Alexander Percy and his nephew Walker Percy, author of The Moviegoer and other highly philosophical novels.