Adams and Reese announces that two well-known partners Dale Allen and Tony Swafford; a highly-respected, governmental affairs advisor Holly McDaniel; and an up-and-coming associate Kyle Young have joined the regional law firm in the Nashville office. All four were previously with the Miller & Martin law firm in Nashville.

Gif Thornton, Chairman of Adams and Reese’s Executive Committee and a Governmental Relations lawyer in the firm’s Nashville office, made the announcement: “This is a high impact group. Dale and Tony are national players in the Transportation and Labor & Employment fields, and Dale and Holly are both top-tier governmental relations professionals. By joining our team, they will help us better serve transportation clients across the country, as well as clients that have governmental relations needs in Tennessee.” 

Allen brings with him more than 25 years of Governmental relations and transportation law experience. He serves on the board of and as general counsel for Cookeville, Tennessee-based transportation and logistics company Averitt Express, Inc., and represents other transportation clients, including FirstFleet, Inc., FirstExpress Inc., Volunteer Express Inc., Tennessee Trucking Association and Enterprise Rent-A-Car of Tennessee.

“My clients needed a bigger platform, and Adams and Reese puts us in six states, including Florida and Texas, plus a Washington, DC office” said Allen. “I have known Gif and his Governmental Relations Team in Tennessee for years. I am excited to join forces going forward.”

Swafford serves on the Executive Committee of the Transportation Lawyers Association. He was Chair of Miller & Martin’s Labor & Employment Department and chaired, also, the firm’s Transportation & Logistics Practice Group. His L&E experience includes successful defense of nationwide class actions and union organizing attempts throughout the country. He has practiced before the National Labor Relations Board and the National Mediation Board. On joining Adams and Reese, Swafford said, “I am very excited about the opportunity to offer our clients increased capabilities over a broader geographic footprint.”

“Dale and Tony handle the legal engagements for some of the largest transportation companies in the country, and we are excited that they are joining Adams and Reese,” said Brad Lampley, Partner in Charge of the Adams and Reese Nashville office

For more than 10 years, McDaniel’s Tennessee state lobbying practice has ranged from complex health care issues, telecommunications, fuel supply distribution to liquor laws and education issues. She served as Director of Legislation for the TennCare Bureau during an extended period of reform efforts.

“Holly’s lobbying efforts have made a tremendous impact for health care programs throughout Tennessee, and she has also been an effective advocate for a variety of business interests across many disciplines,” said Thornton. “She understands the legislative process and will be a great asset to our Governmental Relations team.”

Young represents regional and national clients in a wide range of litigation, transactional, and regulatory matters in the area of transportation and logistics. Young received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2009, and earned his B.A. from Wake Forest University in 2006. While at Wake Forest, he was a pitcher on the Deacons’ baseball team, and was named Academic All-ACC. 

Thornton concluded: “This announcement continues a trend of strong growth for Adams and Reese in Nashville.”