Elliott Recipient of Awards

Gearhiser, Peters, Elliott, & Cannon, PLLC

On October 11, 2018, Sam Elliott was awarded the 2018 Justices Brock and Cooper American Inns of Court Civility Award, which recognizes extraordinary civility among local lawyers.   The award is conferred based on a vote of local state and federal judges.

On October 26, 2018, Sam was awarded the Chief Justice William M. Barker Equal Access to Justice Award by Legal Aid of East Tennessee.  The award is selected by members of LAET’s Pro Bono Lawyers Chattanooga Hall of Fame, and recognizes an attorney who has made a significant contribution to advancing the cause of access to justice in Tennessee.   Sam has been a member of the Pro Bono Hall of Fame since 2012.

David McDowell was elected to serve as the Vice President of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Fellows

July 10, 2025
At the 144th Annual Tennessee Bar Association Convention, David McDowell was elected to serve as the Vice President of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Fellows, and began another term of service as the East Tennessee Governor on the Tennessee Bar Association Board of Governors.

Longtime Legal Leader Sam D. Elliott Takes Helm of Tennessee Bar Foundation

July 10, 2025
On July 1, 2025, Sam D. Elliott, a member of the firm, assumed the chairmanship of the Tennessee Bar Foundation Board of Trustees. A member of the Board since 2019, Sam will serve a one-year term as chairman. The Tennessee Bar Foundation was established in 1982. Its mission is to administer Tennessee’s IOLTA (Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Accounts) program, honor distinguished attorneys as "Fellows," and support law-related public interest projects. The IOLTA program supports Tennessee’s Legal Aid programs and other non-profit organizations which provide legal services to the poor and/or work to improve the administration of justice. Sam is a former president of the Tennessee and Chattanooga Bar Associations and also currently serves as Chairman of the Tennessee Historical Commission.