(Memphis, TN/July 29, 2011) Leo Bearman of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, is among a select group of honorees who will be recognized as "Pillars of Excellence" by the Law Chapter of the University of Memphis Alumni Association.
The Pillars of Excellence Award was created in 2007 by the Law Chapter of the University of Memphis Alumni Association to recognize attorneys in the Memphis-area legal community who have made significant contributions to the practice of law in their civic and professional lives. The Pillars of Excellence are chosen by a committee comprising all past presidents of the Law Chapter of the University of Memphis Alumni Association. Criteria to be named a Pillar of Excellence include being admitted to the practice of law for more than 45 years; significant service to the legal profession and to the community; leadership roles in both the legal and civic communities; and general recognition among the Memphis Bar that the honoree possesses the highest legal skills and ethical standards.
A shareholder in Baker Donelson's Memphis office, Mr. Bearman has 50 years' experience as a trial attorney. During that time, he has represented a range of clients, including city and county governments as well as a number of national, regional and local companies, in civil litigation, class action defense, antitrust matters, insurance defense litigation, products liability defense, intellectual property litigation, professional negligence defense and commercial litigation. Mr. Bearman is consistently recognized by leading attorney listings including The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business and Mid-South Super Lawyers. He has also been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® as the Memphis "Lawyer of the Year" in the areas of medical malpractice law (2011), bet-the-company litigation (2010) and personal injury litigation (2009). In 2009, Mr. Bearman was named "Litigator of the Year" by the Tennessee Bar Association Litigation Section. He is the only attorney in Tennessee who has been elected to both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. In 1989, the Memphis Bar Association recognized him with its "Lawyer's Lawyer" Award.
Mr. Bearman is a past president of Temple Israel and is a recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
Mr. Bearman and the other honorees will be recognized at the 2011 "Pillars of Excellence" recognition program on Saturday, August 13th, at the Holiday Inn at the University of Memphis.