Alumni Spotlights

Alumni Spotlight Featuring: Lillian Blackshear

By Trinity Sandifer | July 18, 2024

Spotlight Feature: Lillian Blackshear       

Graduation Year: 2008

Tennessee Law Review Position: Articles Editor

Lillian Blackshear is a distinguished partner in the Nashville office of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC. She joined the firm in 2008, immediately after graduating from law school, and she has been an integral part of the team ever since. As a public finance lawyer, Lillian generally represents governments or banks in the issuance of governmental debt. Notably, Lillian played a crucial role as part of a deal team that represented Metro Nashville in the financing of the new Tennessee Titans stadium last year. Additionally, she has represented investment banks in the offering of some of the largest bond deals ever issued by the State of Tennessee. Lillian has amassed an impressive track record, having been involved in public finance transactions totaling more than $10 billion. Her dedication and exceptional skills have cemented her reputation as a leading figure in the field of public finance law.

Lillian is a highly skilled transactional lawyer whose expertise in researching and editing has played a crucial role in her successful practice. Her time on the Tennessee Law Review (TLR) honed her abilities and equipped her with essential skills that have proven to be invaluable in her career. Lillian noted, “[t]hough I don’t have to cite sources according to the Bluebook rules in my area of law, the practice of going back to the source material, verifying language[,] and editing for clarity are all essential skills in the preparation of securities offering documents—one of the core areas of my practice.” Lillian firmly believes that no matter the specialization within the field of law, the experiences that TLR staff members gain from research, writing, and editing are indispensable. Her commitment to excellence and meticulous approach to her work have garnered her widespread respect within the legal profession.

Lillian’s goal for the legal profession is for the legal community to continue to see the law as a noble profession. She stated, “[t]hough the legal profession is ever-evolving with the advent of new areas of law, new social issues to address and new ways to work and stay connected, I think it’s important that we always see ourselves as protectors of justice, equality, and fairness.” Lillian believes that although these principles will manifest differently in practice depending on the areas and the clients represented, these principles, however manifested, should be the aim.

During her time in law school, Lillian achieved the noteworthy accomplishment of having two articles published. Specifically, Lillian’s case note, published in the Tennessee Law Review, discussed county term limits under the Tennessee Constitution.[1] Additionally, her article in Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law delved into the issuance of closing opinions, a topic that remains directly relevant to her current legal practice.[2] Remarkably, Lillian continues to draw on insights from this article more than a decade later, utilizing it as a resource when opinion issues pop up on deals. Lillian’s work has been cited in law reviews across different educational institutions, which is a gratifying recognition of the lasting impact of her scholarly contributions.

Lillian’s advice to current TLR members is to enjoy themselves and their time on the TLR. She encouraged them to take advantage of the skills and exposure that the position affords and to build friendships with their fellow editors. She emphasized that although their time on TLR may be short, the skills and friendships they build will follow them throughout their careers.

[1] Lillian Blackshear, Note, Constitutional Law- State Constitution of Tennessee- Term Limits in a County Charter Authorized Under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 5-1-210(4) and Article VII, Section 1 of the Tennessee, Constitution, 74 Tenn. L. Rev. 421 (2007).

[2] Lillian Blackshear, Wait . . . What did I Just Say?: What Lawyers Need to be Concerned About When Issuing Third-Party Closing Opinions, 10 Tenn. J. Bus. L. 71 (2008), https://ir.law.utk.edu/transactions/vol10/iss1/8.