Wayne Peters Awarded Harry Weill Zealous Practice of Law Award
Gearhiser, Peters, Elliott, & Cannon, PLLC
On February 2 at the 124th annual meeting of the Chattanooga Bar Association, Wayne Peters was awarded the Harry Weill Zealous Practice of Law Award. This award is presented annually to a member of the Bar whose “energetic and enthusiastic service to clients is worthy of praise, and whose polite and dignified manner, even in the most contentious situation, provides a model of civility that is worthy of emulation.” We can think of no one more deserving.
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.
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.
