President ' s Message
4 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2025
E. TYRON BROWN Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP tbrown @ hpylaw. com
The 2025-2026 bar year is continuing its strong run. The Inaugural 2025 Atlanta Bar Association Leadership Academy has had four sessions as follows:
The September 4, 2025 session, on the topic“ How to Win at Being a Mentee,” featured a panel consisting of the Honorable Benjamin A. Land, Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Eric Schroeder,
Partner at Bryan Cave, Kristina Kopf Thomas, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland, and Kadeisha West, Associate at Troutman Pepper Locke. At this session, the class members received information to hone their skills to become betters mentees in mentor-mentee relationships.
The September 18, 2025 session, on the topic“ Expanding Your Circle of Champions,” featured a panel consisting of The Honorable Verda Colvin, Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia, Bill DuPre, Partner at Miller & Martin, Brian McEvoy, Partner at BakerHostetler, and Amy Rudolph, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland. Uchenna Ekuma-Nkama, Partner at Dentons, was the Moderator. At this session, class members learned how to increase the number of persons who can pave the way for them to be successful in their careers.
The October 2, 2025 session, on the topic“ Winning Communications Skills in all Environments,” featured a panel consisting of Austin Ellis, Assistant General Counsel at Mercedes Benz USA, Jay Malone, Corporate Counsel at The Home Depot, Karen Karibinos, Partner at Chartwell Law, and Bill Shaunessy, Partner at Jones Walker. At this session, class members learned how to be effective communicators under any conditions, including tough and challenging conditions.
The October 16, 2025 session, on the topic“ Prioritizing Community Service,” featured a panel consisting of Ryan Buchanan, Managing Partner of McGuireWoods’ Atlanta office, and former US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, Austin Hemmer, Partner, Smith Gambrell Russell, Justin King, Partner, King & Spalding, and Pamela Miller, Partner, Fisher Phillps. At this session, class members learned the importance of making community service a priority for the good of the community, and for themselves. The remaining sessions are as follows: