The Team at Gill Family Law

Lisa J. Gill, Founder & Attorney

Lisa J. Gill is the founder of Gill Family Law, PLLC. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is designated as a Family Law Trial Specialist with the National Board of Trial Advocacy. She is licensed in Mississippi and Tennessee and represents clients in both states at the trial and appellate levels. She also represents parties in the alternative dispute resolution processes of mediation and arbitration outside of the courtroom.

She currently serves as Chair of the Tennessee Bar Association Family Law Section Executive Committee, is a Board Member on the Board of Directors of the Memphis Bar Association and is the Vice Chair of the Executive Committee for Leadership Germantown. She has held prior presidencies with the Association of Women Attorneys Memphis Chapter and Mississippi Bar Association Northwest Young Lawyers Division. Her prior legal experience included participating in trials in federal court, state court, administrative law cases, and arbitration of claims involving construction, real estate, business law, and employment law. Prior to practicing family law, she participated in the resolution of various business disputes. She worked to resolve business disputes involving commercial and residential real estate contract litigation, construction litigation, shareholder disputes, embezzlement and other breach of fiduciary duty investigations, as well as, general employment issues. She conducted on-site investigations for employers, gave status reports to executive boards, and reviewed internal business policies for legal compliance.

To learn more about Lisa, check out her interviews.

ValientCEO Magazine Interview with Lisa Gill

High Velocity Radio Interview with Lisa Gill hosted by Stone Payton

The Hum Podcast Interview with Bret Max of Station 8 Productions

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Lisa now concentrates her practice in all areas of family law, including divorce, child custody/parental issues, child support, termination of parental rights, adoption, paternity, and juvenile court matters. She also handles pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and LGBTQ+ family law. She handles complex case matters, including families having mental health and/or addiction issues, families owning businesses and families wanting to protect their assets for generations.  She is a small business owner and was a small business owner prior to becoming a lawyer. Her experience as a small business owner prior to becoming a lawyer has helped her better represent business owners as she is aware of their struggles, issues, and concerns.

HER STRATEGY

Lisa’s top priority is to listen to her client, discuss their expectations, then develop a strategy to meet her client’s objectives.  She prides herself on patience, understanding, and compassion.  She takes on complex matters and gets right to the heart of it early to develop a strategy for a client’s global resolution. Her second priority is to provide strategic counsel along with timely and quality work.  She works to help clients understand how their legal case can be a metaphor for life.  Because she has personally experienced divorce, she knows that clients want an attorney that aggressively works to reach resolution.  However, she also knows clients want counsel that allows them to maintain their dignity and a degree of control and, when possible, self-determination in the resolution of life altering legal matters.

WHAT MOTIVATES HER?

When Lisa was young, she spent many weekends and nights doing her homework at job site trailers and at the local Memphis Builders Exchange (before the days of AutoCAD), as her Father was a local electrical estimator and subcontractor.  Her Father taught her that the difference between good and great is “all in the details.”  He could recite entire sections of the NEC from memory and still explain in layman’s terms what it meant without ever once making someone feel less than.  Her father taught many apprentices to help them obtain their master electrician’s license.  He acknowledged that getting the details right was powerful and important because it could mean the difference between a safe or unsafe job site or finished job.  He defined “servant leader” with his actions.  He listened, taught, and gave guidance.  She applies that same passionate dedication and principle to her legal practice.  She not applies these principles in her legal practice but, she has also frequently taught continuing legal education and given her time to mentoring and leadership programs through various associations in Mississippi and Tennessee, the Association of Women Attorneys, and the Leadership Germantown Youth Program.

HOW IS IT DONE?

As a friend’s father once told her, “You must offer the olive branch but, ready the sword.”  She takes that advice to heart.  She is results-oriented and efficient.  She works to resolve matters through negotiation or mediation when possible while also keeping the case poised for trial if negotiations are unfruitful.  She and her team aim to ensure that their clients do not have the added anxiety of preparing at the very last minute or being unprepared should their case proceed to trial.  Her first mentor taught her that “unfortunately, nothing settles a case quite like a trial date.”  Personally, she believes that Sun Tzu said it best when he offered “The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”  Still, she has come to accept that she cannot control whether the other party acknowledges the truth of that principle.  That is why she “offers the olive branch but readies the sword.” Lisa is an empathetic listener who offers compassionate guidance to clients navigating some of their most difficult and life-changing experiences.  She understands that clients need not only legal counsel but, also reassurance as they make some of their most challenging life decisions.

Lisa Gill is a skillful, effective advocate and experienced business owner who concentrates on being cost-efficient, reliable, and results-oriented.

EDUCATION

  • THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS CECIL C. HUMPHREYS SCHOOL OF LAW: Juris Doctorate

  • THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS: B.P.S, magna cum laude

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Rule 31 Listed Mediator 

  • Board Certified as a Family Law Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy

ACCOLADES

  • Super Lawyers® (2016-2023)

  • Avvo Superb (10/10) rating

  • 2021 Memphis Business Journal Best of the Bar

ACTIVITIES & AFFILIATIONS

  • Memphis Bar Foundation

    • Fellow (Inducted 2023)

  • Memphis ADR American Inns of Court

    • Member (2022 – Present)

  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

    • Fellow (Inducted 2022)

  • American Bar Association Family Law Section

    • Member (2015-Present)

  • Tennessee Bar Association

    • Member (2009-Present)

    • Member of Family Law Executive Committee (2021-Present)

    • Vice Chair of Family Law Executive Committee (2022-Present)

    • Chair of the Family Law Executive Committee (2023-Present)

  • Memphis Bar Association

    • Member (2009-Present)

    • Director (2020-Present)

  • Mississippi Bar Association

    • Member (2009-Present)

    • Induction Ceremony Committee (2010)

    • President of NWMS YLD (2010-2011)

    • Organizing Chair of the NWMS YLD “Wills for Heroes” Event (2010)

NOTABLE CASES

  • Natalie Rowland Stewart v. Brian Stacy Rowland, No. W2015-00583-COA-R3-CV (TN Case)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Leadership Germantown Future Leaders (Youth Program), Sponsor (2022)

  • Tennessee Women’s Advocacy Center, Purple Party Gala Sponsor (2022)

  • United States Department of Labor, Volunteer Ombudsman (2009-2010)

  • Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Great Strides Volunteer & Golf Committee Member (2004-2009)

  • Oasis of Hope, Volunteer Room Mother at Caldwell Elementary (2009-2010)

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Tennessee

  • Mississippi 

LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

  • Tennessee Bar Association Family Law Section, Present Chair of the Executive Committee (2023-2024)

  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Law Practice Management & Technology Committee, Member (2023-Present)

  • Leadership Germantown Executive Board, Member (2022-Present)

  • Leadership Germantown, Graduate (2021)

  • Memphis Bar Association, Director (2020-Present)

  • Association of Women Attorneys, Past President (2016)

  • NITA (formerly ABA) Family Law Trial Advocacy Program, Graduate (2016)

  • Memphis Bar Association Family Law Section, Past Judicial Reception Chair (2015)

  • Association of Women Attorneys, Past Judicial Forum Chair (2014)

  • Association of Women Attorneys, Past Annual Banquet Chair (2010-2012)

  • Mississippi Bar Association, Northwest Mississippi Young Lawyers Division, Past President (2010)

  • Mississippi Bar Association, Northwest Mississippi Young Lawyers Division, Organizing Chair of the “Wills for Heroes” Event (2010)

  • Memphis Bar Association Leadership Forum, Graduate (2010)

PUBLICATIONS & PROFESSIONAL LECTURES

  • The Future Law Office: Decentralization - Procedures, Co-Presenter, Lawrence Datz, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Law Practice Management & Technology Committee - (September 19, 2023)

  • The Future Law Office: Decentralization - Contract Workers, Co-Presenter, Richard West, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Law Practice Management & Technology Committee - (September 19, 2023)

  • Pitfalls and Pointers: Litigation Involving Closely-Held Businesses and Family Law, Tennessee Bar Association - (August 17, 2023)

  • The Proposed Tennessee Domestic Relations Arbitration Act: A Road Map to Give Tennessee Family Law Litigants Equal Access to Arbitration, Tennessee Bar Journal March/April 2023, Vol. 59 No. 2

  • Ethics in the Information Age: Civil Actions and Remedies for Wiretapping, Stolen Evidence, Invasion of Privacy and HIPAA Disclosures, Tennessee Bar Association - (January 22, 2023)

  • Family Law Legislative Update, Tennessee Bar Association - (November 1, 2022)

  • Making the Best of a Difficult Situation: Hot Topics in Complex Family Law Situations, Memphis Bar Association – (October 1, 2022)

  • Tales from the Crypto: Cryptocurrency and the Impact this New Form of Exchange has in the Discovery Process and in Litigation Projects, Memphis Bar Association – (September 30, 2022)

  • Dealing with Difficult Opposing Counsel, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Domestic Law Forum – (March 18, 2021)

  • How to Best Use Your Financial Expert, Memphis Bar Association Bench Bar – (October 15, 2020)

  • Orders of Protection: Pointers and Pitfalls, Memphis Bar Association Family Law Section – (March 18, 2020)

  • Dealing with a Narcissist, Memphis Bar Association – (September 25, 2019)

  • Effective Negotiation Tactics, Memphis Bar Association Family Law Section – (April 10, 2019)

  • Family Law Legislative Update, Memphis Bar Association Family Law Section – (September 19, 2018)

  • Orders of Protection and Firearm Restrictions: A Look at the Sutherland Springs Incident, Memphis Bar Association – (December 5, 2017)

  • Criminal Issues in Civil Trials: A Closer Look at Contempt, Memphis Bar Association Leadership Forum – (May 13, 2013)

  • How to Conduct an Employment Investigation: Considerations in Light of Recent Supreme Court Decisions, Northwest Mississippi Chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Presenter - (November 1, 2011)

  • 2010 Employment Law Update, Northwest Mississippi Chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Presenter - (August 23, 2011)

 

EDUCATION

  • Mississippi College of Law: Juris Doctor, magna cum laude (2017)

  • Mississippi State University: Bachelor of Accountancy, summa cum laude (2014)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • West Cancer Foundation Young Professionals Advisory Board

  • Mississippi Center for Justice, Jackson, MS: volunteer for the Expungement Clinic (2015)

  • Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, Jackson, MS: volunteer (2014-2016)

ACTIVITIES & AFFILIATIONS

  • Memphis Bar Association

  • Tennessee Bar Association

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Tennessee

EXPERIENCE

  • Clerk for the Honorable Jim Kyle, Chancellor of Part II of the Shelby County Chancery Court

  • Law Fellow for the Office of Legal Counsel at the University of Memphis

E. Chelsea Connor, Attorney

Chelsea Connor is a native of Germantown, Tennessee and is a graduate of St. Agnes Academy. Chelsea earned her Bachelor of Accountancy from Mississippi State University, graduating summa cum laude. Upon her graduation from Mississippi State, Chelsea attended Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, MS where she earned her Juris Doctorate, graduating magna cum laude.  While in law school, Chelsea held multiple roles in the Law Student Bar Association, served as a Dean’s Ambassador, and was a member (2015-2016) and later Executive Editor (2016-2017) of the MC Law Review.

Chelsea began her legal career as a Law Fellow for the Office of Legal Counsel at the University of Memphis, where she provided legal assistance to all areas of the University. Prior to entering private practice, Chelsea had the privilege to clerk of the Honorable Jim Kyle, Chancellor of Part II of the Shelby County Chancery Court. This experience exposed her to a variety of cases and issues in the civil law sector, including divorces, adoptions, family disputes, and business disputes. As a result of her clerkship experience, she understands the daily workings of the court system from both sides of the bar.

The diversity of her prior experience has helped her gain insight into a variety of cases and issues through the lens of many different perspectives and personalities, which she applies in her daily practice. Today, Chelsea concentrates her practice in the areas of divorce, child custody and support, abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, adoptions, guardianships, and other areas of family and probate law.

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society

  • American Jurisprudence Award issued by Mississippi College School of Law

    • Small Legal Writing Group (Fall 2014)

    • Small Legal Writing Group (Spring 2015)

    • Wills and Estates (Summer 2015)

    • Securities Regulation (Spring 2016)

    • Federal Taxation (Spring 2016)

    • Professional Responsibility and Ethics (Summer 2016)

  • Dean's List issued by Mississippi College School of Law

    • Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017

  • Law Review at Mississippi College School of Law

      • 2L Member (2015-2016)

      • Executive Editor (2016-2017) 

 

Anne B. Davis, Attorney

Anne B. Davis earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance in 1991 from Memphis State University. Anne worked in the finance industry before returning to school and earning her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Following law school, Anne served as Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Donna M. Fields and the Honorable D.J. Alissandratos.

Anne is active in several professional organizations. She is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Association of Women Attorneys, and Memphis Bar Association, where she has been a representative of the Board of Directors for many years and served as President of the Memphis Bar Association’s Family Law Section. Anne has lectured on family law issues. She has been identified by Super Lawyers each year since 2015. Anne was selected as a member of the Memphis Bar Association’s Leadership Forum class of 2012-2013 and was inducted as a Fellow into the Memphis Bar Foundation in 2017 and remains a member today. Anne served for two years on a committee formed by the Administrative Office of Courts to develop resources to help self-represented litigants and drafted plain language forms to be used in court. Anne was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court as a Hearing Committee Member for the Board of Professional Responsibility and is serving her second term in that capacity.

Anne is also active in several local civic organizations, including volunteering her time with the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County and serving for many years on its Board of Directors. She currently serves on the board of the Shelby County Law Library and is an officer for the Memphis Collaborative Alliance.

Anne is licensed in Tennessee and practices civil litigation. She concentrates her practice in all areas of family law, including divorce and legal separation, child custody, visitation, child support, alimony, paternity, Juvenile Court matters and adoptions, primarily in Shelby, Tipton, and Fayette counties. Anne is a Rule 31 listed mediator and is trained in the Collaborative Law Process.

EDUCATION

  • Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Memphis State University

  • University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

ACTIVITIES & AFFILIATIONS

  • Memphis Bar Association

    • Former Chair of the Family Law Section

    • Representative on the Board of Directors

    • Selected as a member of the MBA Leadership Forum in 2012-2013

    • Inducted as a Fellow in 2017

  • Tennessee Bar Association Member

  • Association of Women Attorneys

  • Served two years on a committee formed by the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop resources to help self-represented litigants

  • Tennessee Supreme Court

    • Hearing Committee Member for the Board of Professional Responsibility

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Tennessee

ACCOLADES

  • Selected to Super Lawyers in the area of Family Law every year since 2015

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

  • Shelby County Law Library

    • Board Member

  • Memphis Collaborative Alliance

    • Officer

  • Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County

    • Board of Directors

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Rule 31 Listed Mediator

 

Jarred Culpepper, Attorney

Jarred Culpepper is a native of Huntsville, Alabama, and earned his Bachelor of Accountancy from Mississippi State University, and his Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law.

EDUCATION

  • MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE SCHOOL OF LAW: Juris Doctor, cum laude

  • MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY : Bachelor of Accountancy

ACTIVITIES & AFFILIATIONS

  • Memphis Bar Association - Family Law Section, CLE Committee Member

  • Mississippi Bar Association

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Tennessee

  • Mississippi

EXPERIENCE

  • Intern, Harrison County District Attorney’s Office

  • Extern, Judge Kent McDaniel, Rankin County Court

LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

  • Order of Barristers

  • ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy Program, Graduate (2023)

While in law school, Jarred served as a member of the Moot Court Board, Student Bar Association, Dean’s Ambassadors, and the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society.

Today, Jarred concentrates his practice in areas of divorce, child custody and support, abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, adoptions, guardianships, and other areas of family law. Outside of work, Jarred enjoys cooking, barbecuing with friends, playing soccer in the Greater Memphis Soccer Association, and going on walks and bike rides with his wife.

He was recognized for his advocacy skills as a member of the Moot Court Board by being inducted into the Order of Barristers before graduation. Jarred spent the summers as an intern with the Harrison County District Attorney’s Office in Gulfport, Mississippi, and as an extern under Judge Kent McDaniel in Brandon, Mississippi. 

 

Shebrina Elrod, Paralegal & Operations manager

Shebrina’s experience as a former client gave her a passion for family law and an understanding of what our clients are feeling and experiencing. This compassion ultimately led Shebrina to pursue her dream of being a paralegal; she has obtained a degree as an Associate of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services from Purdue Global University.

 

As Operations Manager & Paralegal for Gill Family Law, Shebrina assists the Gill Family Law attorneys and our clients to ensure our cases proceed as smoothly as possible. Shebrina excels in organizing legal documents & client discovery files in the perfect way for proper analysis. Ensuring that our clients are taken care of from beginning to end. Shebrina prepares and organizes the case files for mediation, deposition, and hearings. Shebrina strives to help the clients in being organized and helping them to provide the necessary documents needed for their case through the newest forms of technology.

 

Lee Johns, Paralegal

Lee Johns is the newest member of Gill Family Law. She's had a life long interest in law & a previous background in office administration & childcare. After interning for Gill Family Law from the Paralegal Studies program at Southwest Tennessee Community College, Lee officially joined the GFL team in Fall of 2022.

Joining Gill Family Law as a litigation paralegal is a job she has been preparing for her whole life. Lee works with the team to ensure that each client feels comfortable and confident in their representation. From onboarding file management, to community relations & beyond, Lee is dedicated to making your experience with Gill Family Law as pleasant and productive as possible.

Our Philosophy

We are committed to giving our clients the greatest advantage, using modern conveniences that create efficiency and make great sense.

We have developed internal systems to offer our clients modern conveniences including access to make appointments easily and a secure client portal with 24-hour access to securely send/receive case information. This investment and commitment to leveraging technology gives our clients their leading edge.

We know that assessing our clients’ critical information as early and as thoroughly as possible provides them with that needed advantage. 

Legal strategy is all about examining client information and executing based on that information.  We believe that our clients deserve modern efficiencies to streamline that process and give them the greatest advantage from the outset of their case. 

We evaluate information early and process it quickly; our clients know, in real-time, what their options are as they navigate the legal process. 

Our clients deserve representation that acknowledges each client has unique challenges. At Gill Family Law, our clients are people, not file numbers.

We are a people-first culture where clients and team members work together. Our team is committed to encouraging the development and personal well-being of our clients and one another. 

We have a heightened awareness and empathy as we walk with clients through difficulties and often life-altering decisions. We do not ever take that responsibility lightly.

When our clients are experiencing difficult circumstances, we encourage their self-care. We provide options and guidance to help them make to the best decisions, and delight in celebrating their victories alongside them.