Ellen Vergos is a member of the Firm's Bankruptcy & Creditors' Right Service Team and practices primarily in the areas of business bankruptcy, representing creditors and Chapter 11 debtors, and commercial litigation. Ms. Vergos is certified as a Specialist in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification and the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization. She is certified by the Tennessee Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission as a Rule 31 Listed Mediator in the field of General Civil Mediation. Representative Matters Ms. Vergos represents creditors and business debtors in workouts, debt restructuring and related matters. She regularly represents and advises clients with respect to asset sales in bankruptcy cases. She has broad litigation experience representing creditors in business bankruptcy cases, debtors in business bankruptcy cases and in related adversary proceedings and in commercial litigation in state and federal courts. In addition, she is experienced in appeals and has briefed and argued appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Federal Circuits; in Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Sixth Circuit; and the Tennessee Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Professional Experience · U.S. Department of Justice as United States Trustee for Region 8 (Tennessee and Kentucky) by appointment to two terms of office by former Attorney General Janet Reno, 1995-2003 · Private law practice in Memphis and Nashville, including a partnership with the former Waring Cox law firm (1980-1994) and practice as an associate with the former law firm of Farris, Warfield & Kanaday (1977-1980) · Judicial Clerkship in the U.S. District Court for the Honorable Harry W. Wellford (retired Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals judge), 1976-1977 Honors · Woodward/White's The Best Lawyers in America 2009, 2010, 2011® · AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory · Mid-South Super Lawyers in the area of Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, 2009, 2010, 2011 · Association for Women Attorneys annual Griffin/Loring Award, 1998 · YWCA "Women in Public Leadership: A Power for Change" Award, 1996 Seminars Ms. Vergos is a frequent speaker and writer providing information on bankruptcy law to lawyers and judges not specializing in bankruptcy and to non-lawyer groups. She has spoken at seminars sponsored by the: · National Association for Bankruptcy Trustees (2005, 1999) · National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees (2000) · Tthe National Bar Association (1999) · Tennessee Bar Association (2001, 2000) · Tennessee Economic Council on Women (2007, 2006) · Numerous seminars for the U.S. Trustee program · The Memphis Bar Associatio · Groups such as the Kiwanis Club; Realtors Association; CPA's; TLAW and AWA She also participated in a panel on "Federal Law Intersection with Family Law" for the American Bar Association CLE program in October, 2007. Professional Activities and Memberships · Memphis and American Bar Associations · Tennessee Bar Association, Ethics and Professionalism Committee · American Bankruptcy Institute · Memphis and Tennessee Bar Foundations · Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, Assistant Bar Examiner, 1983-2005 · Tennessee Lawyers Association (past President) · Association for Women Attorneys (past President) · Mid South Commercial Law Institute (past board member) Publications Her recent publications include articles on recent changes in bankruptcy law: "Bankruptcy Blues: New Risks, Responsibilities for Tennessee Attorneys" 42 Tennessee Bar Journal No. 3 14 (2006); and "Ten Things You Need to Know About the New Bankruptcy Law," Memphis Bar Association Journal, July/August 2005. She has authored chapters for Thomson West Publishing's Tennessee Practice series, including Tennessee Practice: Legal Forms and Commentary Vol. 13 Chapters on Arbitration, Settlements and Assignments and annual supplements (2d Ed. 1992-2007); and a chapter on bankruptcy law in Tennessee Practice Vol. 19A (2007). Civic Involvement · Tennessee Economic Council on Women, Memphis Area Development District Representative and Executive Committee Member. The TECW assesses the economic status of women to address women's needs to help women achieve economic autonomy. See www.state.tn.us/sos/ecw.htm. Appointed by the Tennessee Speakers of the House and Senate. Nov. 2004-present. · Memphis Convention Center Board of Commissioners, (Board oversees operation of the convention center) appointed by Memphis City Council, 2005-present. · Tennessee Justice Center, Board member, 2007-present. |