| BEN F. JONES CHAPTER NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION |
| 2008 OFFICERS |
| MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association is to encourage professionalism, collegiality, legal scholarship & service to our community. We seek to uphold the honor of the profession and the highest ideals of our legal system. |
| IN THE BEGINNING In 1960, five African-American attorneys gathered for the express purpose of sharing ideas, knowledge and experiences pertaining to the day-to-day, hand-on practice of law in Memphis and Shelby County. The group had no particular name and for a number of years met rather infrequently. Throughout the years, the purpose remained the same: to gather legal knowledge and to create a sense of community and comradery among the small number of African-American attorneys during that time. The first meeting was held on a Sunday afternoon at the office of then attorney, now retired Judge, the Honorable H.T. Lockard, who coined the idea to meet on a regular basis as a "study club" to discuss various experiences concerning the practice of law. The attorneys present at the initial meeting included James Estes, S.A. Wilbun and Rev. Dr. Benjamin Hooks, who went on to lead the NAACP as Executive Director for 15 years. In later years, other prominent local attorneys including Russell Sugarmon, A.W. Willis, James Swearengen, Ira Murphy, Johnny Johnson and Arthur Bennett joined the distinguished group. Many members of this group later became judges, politicians, and respected business and civic leaders within the community. In 1966, the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association was officially formed. Today, the chapter is composed of more than 300 attorneys in Memphis and Shelby County. The Ben F. Jones Chapter is an affiliate chapter of the National Bar Association, the oldest and largest bar association of people of color in the world. Founded in 1925, the NBA is currently headquartered in Washington, D.C. The association has 88 affiliate chapters and represents over 20,000 lawyers, judges and law students throughout the world. |
Elbert Jefferson, Jr., currently serve the City of Memphis as the City Attorney. As the immediate
past president of the Ben F. Jones Chapter, Elbert was instrumental in the creation of the
association's website. He worked tirelessly to institute new programs and relationships such as
the mentoring program with the University of Memphis law school.
Elbert rejoined the City Attrney's Office in September 2002 after serving as the Deputy Director
and General Counsel of the Memphis Housing Authority from November 1999 to August 2002.
He previously served from February 1992 to November 1999 in the capacity of Deputy City
Attorney -- Litigation within the City's Law Division. Elbert is responsible for management
oversight of the Division's litigation attorneys as well as the Division's various litigation matters in
which the City of Memphis has an interest.
Mr. Jefferson graduated Magna Cum Laude from LeMoyne-Owen College in April 1986. He
received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's College of
Law in May 1989 and was admitted to practice in Tennessee in 1991. He serves as a Hearing
Officer for the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.
past president of the Ben F. Jones Chapter, Elbert was instrumental in the creation of the
association's website. He worked tirelessly to institute new programs and relationships such as
the mentoring program with the University of Memphis law school.
Elbert rejoined the City Attrney's Office in September 2002 after serving as the Deputy Director
and General Counsel of the Memphis Housing Authority from November 1999 to August 2002.
He previously served from February 1992 to November 1999 in the capacity of Deputy City
Attorney -- Litigation within the City's Law Division. Elbert is responsible for management
oversight of the Division's litigation attorneys as well as the Division's various litigation matters in
which the City of Memphis has an interest.
Mr. Jefferson graduated Magna Cum Laude from LeMoyne-Owen College in April 1986. He
received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville's College of
Law in May 1989 and was admitted to practice in Tennessee in 1991. He serves as a Hearing
Officer for the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
ELBERT JEFFERSON, JR.
VICE PRESIDENT
TIFFANY G. JOHNSON
Tiffany G. Johnson is a proud native Memphian and 1996 graduate of Central High School. She
completed her undergraduate work at the University of Miami (Florida), during which time she
had the opportunity to study Literature at Oxford University in England. In 2002, Tiffany
graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC. During law school,
she clerked for Temple Law Offices, a small firm specializing in Constitutional law and civil rights
-- particularly discrimination based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Tiffany also held
two consecutive national office positions with the National Black Law Students Association,
serving first as National Community Service Director and then as National Parliamentarian and
Historian. Her service efforts range from voter registration drives in Chicago housing projects; to
practical law seminars in Washington, DC prisons; to inner city high school mentoring programs
geared towards fine arts and popular culture.
After law school, Tiffany taught English, journalism, dance, and legal studies in public high
schools in both Miami and Memphis before finally settling down to practice law. She has
completed graduate coursework in sociology, education, and composition at Howard University,
Christian Brothers University, the University of Miami, and the University of Memphis, and she is
currently completing her Master's Degree in Professional Writing while working full time at the
Cochran Firm. Tiffany is currently a member of the Memphis and Tennessee Bar Associations,
the National Bar Association, the Association of Women Attorneys, and the Tennessee Trial
Lawyers Association.
completed her undergraduate work at the University of Miami (Florida), during which time she
had the opportunity to study Literature at Oxford University in England. In 2002, Tiffany
graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC. During law school,
she clerked for Temple Law Offices, a small firm specializing in Constitutional law and civil rights
-- particularly discrimination based on race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Tiffany also held
two consecutive national office positions with the National Black Law Students Association,
serving first as National Community Service Director and then as National Parliamentarian and
Historian. Her service efforts range from voter registration drives in Chicago housing projects; to
practical law seminars in Washington, DC prisons; to inner city high school mentoring programs
geared towards fine arts and popular culture.
After law school, Tiffany taught English, journalism, dance, and legal studies in public high
schools in both Miami and Memphis before finally settling down to practice law. She has
completed graduate coursework in sociology, education, and composition at Howard University,
Christian Brothers University, the University of Miami, and the University of Memphis, and she is
currently completing her Master's Degree in Professional Writing while working full time at the
Cochran Firm. Tiffany is currently a member of the Memphis and Tennessee Bar Associations,
the National Bar Association, the Association of Women Attorneys, and the Tennessee Trial
Lawyers Association.
TREASURER/
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
BARBARA L. DEANS
Barbra Deans began her legal career as a paralegal in the Law Offices of Dorothy Graham. After
graduating with a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Memphis, Barbara began working in
the City Attorney's Office as the Legal Administrator. In addition to managing the support staff
and providing legal research assistance to the City Attorney and Senior staff, Barbara managed
the division's annual 2 million dollar budget. After nearly 8 years in that position, Barbara
relocated to Houston Texas, where she decided to attend law school. Barbara graduated from
Thurgood Marshall School of Law 2003. While in law school Barbara served as a Senior Editor
on law review and as editor of The Solicitor Magazine.
Barbara returned to Memphis in 2005 where she worked for the Memphis Housing Authority
and the law firm of Fearnley Califf Martin Tate McDonald & Kimbrough before joining the firm
of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP.
In addition to serving as the Treasurer for the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar
Association, Barbara serves on the board of the Buckman Boys and Girls Club of Memphis and
volunteers her time to other local endeavors.
graduating with a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Memphis, Barbara began working in
the City Attorney's Office as the Legal Administrator. In addition to managing the support staff
and providing legal research assistance to the City Attorney and Senior staff, Barbara managed
the division's annual 2 million dollar budget. After nearly 8 years in that position, Barbara
relocated to Houston Texas, where she decided to attend law school. Barbara graduated from
Thurgood Marshall School of Law 2003. While in law school Barbara served as a Senior Editor
on law review and as editor of The Solicitor Magazine.
Barbara returned to Memphis in 2005 where she worked for the Memphis Housing Authority
and the law firm of Fearnley Califf Martin Tate McDonald & Kimbrough before joining the firm
of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP.
In addition to serving as the Treasurer for the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar
Association, Barbara serves on the board of the Buckman Boys and Girls Club of Memphis and
volunteers her time to other local endeavors.
RECORDING SECRETARY
IMAD ABDULLAH
Imad Abdullah is an associate in the Memphis office of Baker Donelson. Mr. Abdullah
received his J.D. in 2005 from the University of Minnesota Law School where he served as a
staff member of the Minnesota Intellectual Property Review and Supervising Editor of the
Minnesota Journal of Law, Science and Technology. During law school, Mr. Abdullah
worked for an employment defense company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This position
allowed him to represent Twin-Cities employers in employee benefits hearings before
Minnesota Administrative Law Judges.
Since joining Baker Donelson, Mr. Abdullah has been a member of the Firm's Litigation Group
and concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, employment law, and the
defense of physicians in malpractice actions.
received his J.D. in 2005 from the University of Minnesota Law School where he served as a
staff member of the Minnesota Intellectual Property Review and Supervising Editor of the
Minnesota Journal of Law, Science and Technology. During law school, Mr. Abdullah
worked for an employment defense company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This position
allowed him to represent Twin-Cities employers in employee benefits hearings before
Minnesota Administrative Law Judges.
Since joining Baker Donelson, Mr. Abdullah has been a member of the Firm's Litigation Group
and concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, employment law, and the
defense of physicians in malpractice actions.
PARLIAMENTARIAN
DAMON K. GRIFFIN
Damon Keith Griffin was born in Seattle, Washington, but he moved to Memphis,
Tennessee in the mid 1980s. He attended White Station High School and had the
opportunity to attend Morehouse College where he graduated cum laude. Thereafter, he
attended law school at the University of Tennessee College of Law. He returned to
Memphis and practiced law in the private sector in the area of civil litigation, including
medical malpractice and personal injury. Presently, he is an Assistant District Attorney
General in the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office. Additionally, he is an
Adjunct Professor at Christian Brothers University where he teaches American Government
and Politics.
Mr. Griffin serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ben F. Jones National Bar
Association. Also, he was recently appointed as a co-chairman of the Unauthorized Practice
of Law Committee of the Memphis Bar Association. In addition, he is a proud active
member of the Memphis Chapter of the Morehouse Alumni Association.
He is a licensed minister in the Church of God in Christ and is a faithful member of New
Beginnings Community Church of God in Christ where his father James K. Griffin is the
pastor.
Tennessee in the mid 1980s. He attended White Station High School and had the
opportunity to attend Morehouse College where he graduated cum laude. Thereafter, he
attended law school at the University of Tennessee College of Law. He returned to
Memphis and practiced law in the private sector in the area of civil litigation, including
medical malpractice and personal injury. Presently, he is an Assistant District Attorney
General in the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office. Additionally, he is an
Adjunct Professor at Christian Brothers University where he teaches American Government
and Politics.
Mr. Griffin serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ben F. Jones National Bar
Association. Also, he was recently appointed as a co-chairman of the Unauthorized Practice
of Law Committee of the Memphis Bar Association. In addition, he is a proud active
member of the Memphis Chapter of the Morehouse Alumni Association.
He is a licensed minister in the Church of God in Christ and is a faithful member of New
Beginnings Community Church of God in Christ where his father James K. Griffin is the
pastor.
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