M. Kim Vance

Kim Vance is a shareholder in the Labor & Employment Department at Baker Donelson's Nashville office. She has more than 20 years of experience representing management in every aspect of labor and employment law. "Kim is unique. She has the mind of a business owner and the intellect of a great lawyer. This combination has benefited our company in very meaningful ways," said Joe Scarlett, Chairman and former CEO at Tractor Supply Company, where Ms. Vance formerly served as General Counsel.

In addition to defending companies in employment litigation, Ms. Vance's practice focuses upon:

• presenting in-house management training programs to reduce employment related legal risks for companies across the nation;
• counseling management clients through auditing human resources policies and practices to reduce legal risks; and
• developing pre-litigation strategies to improve available defenses in preparation for litigation.

She has represented management clients in State and Federal Courts and in defense of administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, State Human Rights Commissions, State Unemployment Commissions, Arbitrators, the National Labor Relations Board and the Department of Labor.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• "Americans With Disabilities Amendments Act Compliance: Step Up To The Master Class," 2011 Middle Tennessee SHRM Legal Symposium, May 20, 2011; Nashville Chamber of Commerce HR Building Blocks, May 17, 2011
• Co-author – "The Americans With Disabilities Act – A Management Guide"
• "Five Keys to Managing the Challenging Employee," Baker Donelson Breakfast Briefing, May 19, 2011
• "Conducting Effective Internal Investigations," HR Star Conference, May 11, 2011
• "Please Don't Leave Me Now! Complying with the Amended Family Medical leave Act," Avant Resources webinar, March 3, 2011
• "Employment Law for Leaders 2011," Scarlett Leadership Institute, January 25, 2011
• "Legal Liabilities of Social Networking," Ascendant HR, November 2010
• "Agreeing to Disagree: Crafting Effective Employment, Separation and Independent Contractor Agreements," Nashville Chamber of Commerce HR Building Blocks, October 14, 2010
• "It's A New Day At The EEOC: Resonding to EEOC Charges in Light of New EEOC Inititatives," Avant Resources webinar, October 5, 2010
• "Employment Law Update," TVPPA 2010 HR Conference, September 16, 2010
• "Employment Law For Leaders," Scarlett Leadership Institute Belmont University, 2005-present
• "Social Media in Hiring Process," Avant Resources webinar, January-September 2010; Middle Tennessee SHRM, August 25, 2010 and February 4, 2010
• "Social Media," GA Association for Primary Health Care, Inc., June 26, 2010; Cowan Benefit Services, June 22, 2010
• "Social Networking," TN Human Rights Commission, June 17, 2010
• "Employment Law 101," Nashville Chamber of Commerce HR Building Blocks, March 25, 2010
• "Wicked Employment Law: How the Changes Will Affect You," HR Group, October 30, 2009
• "Mother Told Me There Would Be Weeks Like This," Mid-South SHRM Annual Conference, September 29, 2009
• "EFCA: RESPECT Act; Nondiscrimination Act; Lily Ledbetter Act; Arbitration Act; Caregiving Guidance and New Best Practices Issued by EEOC," MTSU SHRM, September 25, 2009
• "Labor & Employment Updates," TVPPA, September 17, 2009
• "Employment Law In The Obama Era," Nashville Chamber of Commerce HR Building Blocks, May 21, 2009
• "Managing An Aging Workforce," HR Star Conference, Atlanta Georgia, May 13, 2009; Middle Tennessee SHRM, April 23, 2009 
• "Understanding the New FMLA Regulations," Nashville Bar Association, April 15, 2009
• "Age Discrimination Update," Tennessee Human Rights Commission, March 18, 2009 
• "Employment Law Update 2009," Tennessee Medical Managers Association, February 10, 2009
• "FMLA Administration: Step Up To The Master Class," Nashville Chamber of Commerce HR Building Blocks, January 22, 2009
• "Client Service Standards," Nashville Bar Association, December 16, 2008
• "Top 10 Ways Employees Can Reduce Legal Risks," Pinnacle Workshop, 2008

Professional Honors & Activities

• Listed since 2008 in Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers as a leading Labor & Employment lawyer in Tennessee
• Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2008
• Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Labor & Employment Law (2001 – 2004)
• Law Clerk – United States District Court Judge H. Franklin Waters, Fayetteville, Arkansas
• Member – Tennessee Bar Association (Chair of Labor and Employment Section 2005-2006 and Vice Chair 2004 – 2005)
• Member – American, Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations
• Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce HR Excellence Awards Chairperson (2005 – 2006); Examiner (2002 – 2003)

Admissions

• Tennessee, 1986
• United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1988
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, 1988
• United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, 1990
• United States Supreme Court, 1995

Education

• University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law School, J.D., 1986, with high honors
• University of Central Arkansas, B.A., 1983, with highest honors