T. Michelle Ator, head of the Medical Malpractice Practice Group at the firm, was elected to be the Chancellor of the Arkansas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church effective July 1, 2016. As Chancellor, Michelle will serve as the chief legal advisor to Bishop Gary Mueller and the Arkansas Annual Conference.
Before her election, Michelle had served as the Associate Chancellor since 2009. Michelle’s service as Chancellor continues a long tradition of the firm’s lawyers serving as legal advisors to churches in Arkansas, including the service of John T. Williams as the Chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas and Fred S. Ursery and William A. Waddell as Chancellors of the Arkansas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
“We are grateful to Michelle for her volunteer service to the United Methodist Church and are proud to recognize her for this high honor and privilege,” said J. Shepherd Russell, III, the firm’s managing partner.