Kevin A. Snider, J.D., C.F.E.- Founding Attorney
snider@lawyer.com

Kevin Snider is the founding attorney of Snider & Horner, PLLC and a licensed attorney in the State of Tennessee, a Certified Fraud Examiner, and Board Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.  He concentrates on Consumer Law and Consumer Protection matters but he is also active in many other areas of both civil and criminal litigation. Mr. Snider has completed over 1000 trials and hearings in local, state, and federal courts as well as at administrative hearings which included the precedent setting case of Beverly Miller, et. al. v. United Automax (2005) in which the Tennessee Supreme Court adopted Mr. Snider’s argument on remedies available in consumer fraud cases. In addition, he serves as a legal consultant and television commentator for the "3 On Your Side" consumer assistance segments on WREG News Channel 3; he conducts legal seminars and lectures for the Memphis and Shelby County Bar Association, National Business Institute, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, West Tennessee Legal Services, Memphis Area Legal Services, SCORE and other local entities; he has testified before the Tennessee House Standing Committee of Consumer and Employee Affairs in regard to new consumer rights legislation; he is the author of Selected Statutes of Tennessee Consumer Law (2003) and A Practical Guide to Identity Theft (2003); he was instrumental in the drafting and subsequent passage of the 2003 amendments to the Tennessee Lemon Law; he is the host of “Legal Ease” a local legal television show; he works as a part-time Public Defender for the City of Germantown; he serves as a Special Judge for the Shelby County General Sessions Civil Court, Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court, and Germantown Municipal Court; and he was the featured columnist for the Shelby Sun Times “Ask a Lawyer” newspaper column from 2000-2002.

Mr. Snider received his B.S. degree in Business Administration from Southern College in Collegedale, Tennessee where he served as an Auxiliary Probation Officer for the Hamilton County Juvenile Court and as a volunteer firefighter.  He then completed the Graduate Summer Scholar Program at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.  Later, he received his law degree from the University of Memphis School of Law in Memphis, Tennessee where he was a member of the Moot Court Board and listed in Who's Who Among American Law Students and subsequently received accreditation as a Certified Fraud Examiner from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and Board Certification as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.  Mr. Snider has been recognized as an “Advocate” by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s National College of Advocacy after completing extensive civil trial seminars and courses conducted at Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia and at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, all of the courts in the State of Tennessee, the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.  Mr. Snider has been awarded the highest attorney rating achievable (“AV”) by the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory which has recognized him as a highly respected and ethical member of the Bar.  In addition, he is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum which restricts membership to attorneys who have obtained judgments or settlements in excess of one million dollars and he has served as President of the East Shelby County Bar Association and is a member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Memphis Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.  Mr. Snider served as the general legal counsel for the Shelby County Republican Party (1999-2003), currently serves as the legal counsel for the Greater Mid-South Area Jaycees, and is a former board member of the Memphis and Shelby County Bar Foundation.  In addition, he is an active member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, an active member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates and has given legal opinions on CNN’s “Talk Back Live” television show.

Mr. Snider was previously appointed to the Financial Advisory, Education, Library, and Youth Commissions for the City of Germantown; previously served on the board of directors of the Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce (1998-2003), Small Business Chamber of Commerce (2004-2005), the University of Memphis School of Law Alumni Association (1998-2004), the University of Memphis Germantown Alumni Association (1997-1999), the University of Memphis Greater Memphis Alumni Club (1999-2000), Germantown Legal Resources, Inc. (1998-2005 where he served as Chairman), and Germantown Arts Aliance (2005-2006); and currently serves on the board of directors of the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South (2002-) and Andrew's Enterprises where he serves as Chairman (1995-).  He is a member of the Crescent Club, Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Chamber of Commerce, and the National Federation of Independent Business.  Additionally, he is a member of the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, Germantown Lions Club, United States Tennis Association, Memphis Tennis Association, United States Golf Association, PGA Tour Partners Club (Charter and Life Member), Germantown Kiwanis Club, National Rifle Association, Defenders of Freedom, Ducks Unlimited, and the University of Memphis Alumni Association (Life Member) and Tiger Club.  He is also active in the local community with numerous charity events and fundraisers.

In 2002, Mr. Snider’s law firm was awarded the prestigious “Small Business of the Year” award by the Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce and was voted “Favorite Law Firm” by the readers of the Germantown News in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2006.  In 2006, he was awarded the esteemed “Top 40 Under Forty” award in the Memphis Business Journal’s annual awards for individuals who have excelled in business and professional areas.  In 2006, Mr. Snider was nominated for Trial Lawyer of the Year in TLPJ Foundation’s national award for attorneys who have made the most outstanding contribution to public interest through precedent-setting litigation.  That same year, he was also nominated for the annual publication of Mid-South Super Lawyers magazine.  In addition, Mr. Snider was appointed to the Business Advisory Council of the National Republican Congressional Committee, selected for listing in “Who's Who in Executives and Professionals”, selected for listing in “Outstanding Young Men of America”, selected for listing in “Who’s Who in Germantown”, and is a graduate of the 1998 Class of Leadership Germantown.  In 2000, he was awarded and named a “Hometown Hero” by the City of Germantown.

Mr. Snider is married with children and resides in Germantown, Tennessee and enjoys tennis, golf, scuba diving, boating, and spending time with his family and dogs. 

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Gail W. Horner - Member Attorney
horner@lawyer.com

She concentrates her practice in adoption, family and juvenile law, as well as general civil mediation, but also has substantial experience in other areas including probate and consumer matters.  Ms. Horner is an experienced litigator in local, state and federal courts, as well as administrative hearings and state appellate matters.

Ms. Horner received her B.S. in Education Cum Laude from Memphis State University in 1976.  She earned her law degree at the University of Memphis School of Law in 1996. 

Ms. Horner is admitted to practice before all of the courts in the State of Tennessee, the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.  She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Memphis Bar Association, the Association for Women Attorneys and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.  She and her husband resided in many areas of the country during her husband’s career as a United States Naval Officer, but returned to their native Tennessee to raise their children.  Ms. Horner served many years as a troop leader for the Girl Scouts of America; served in PTA positions for the Shelby County School System, including President of Collierville Elementary PTA, where she was honored with a Tennessee PTA Lifetime Membership; coached various community youth sports programs, and she is active in many other community and volunteer activities.  Ms. Horner is a member of the University of Memphis Alumni Association and the University of Memphis Tiger Clubs and Highland Hundred.  She is active in the Germantown Chamber of Commerce where her firm was honored as “Small Business of the Year” in 2001.

She was recognized for 2001-2002 by Strathmore’s WHO’S WHO for her leadership and achievement in the practice of law.

She and her family reside in Collierville, Tennessee.

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Phillip D. Waddell - Of Counsel Attorney
pdw@waddell-law.com

Phillip D. Waddell has twenty-eight years experience in the general practice of law and management which includes research, writing and public speaking; staff training and supervision; savings branch management; consumer and commercial lending; data systems analysis; loan closings and title work; management and regulatory reporting; loan administration; contract negotiation; complex mortgage loan, venture, consulting and asset sale transactions; mediation, negotiation and settlement of claims; asset/liability management; creation, delivery and sales of financial management consulting services; start-up, incorporation and management of closing, delivery and legal function for bulk sale secondary mortgage market operation; securitization of mortgage loans.

Experience also includes the drafting and negotiation of over 300 contracts for the purchase and sale of $3 billion in mortgage loan assets and servicing; the sale of a large mortgage banking operation and two mortgage investment bank sales; the acquisition of approvals from FHLMC/FNMA/HUD and others as well as ongoing compliance in the critical areas of company operations.

Licenses:
Admitted to the practice of law in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Education:
Salmon P. Chase College of Law - Juris Doctor
Ohio Savings and Loan Academy - Management
Thomas More College - Management
Savings and Loan Institute - Accounting
Centre College of Kentucky - Bachelor of Arts

Experience:

• Private Practice, Memphis, TN 1992 - Present
• First Mortgage Strategies Group, Inc., Memphis, TN
  • Senior Vice President Secretary/General Counsel 1986 - 1992
  • Vice President/Secretary/General Counsel 1985 - 1986
• First National Bank and Trust Co. of Oklahoma City, OK
  Vice President/Liaison Officer/Asso Counsel 1984 - 1985
• Union Planters National Bank, Memphis, TN
  Vice President 1983 - 1984
• Eagle Savings Association, Cincinnati, OH
  • Assistant Vice President 1979 - 1983
  • Assistant Secretary 1977 - 1979
  • Department Manager 1975 - 1977
  • Branch Manager 1973 - 1975
• Dial Financial Corporation
  Credit Manager 1971 - 1973
• First Mortgage Strategies Group, Inc.
  • Secretary to the Board 1990 - 1992
  • Director 1986 - 1989
• Germantown, Tennessee, Chamber of Commerce
  Director 1999-

Publication:
"The Savings and Loan in the Community", Ohio Record, January, 1979

Awards:
Kentucky Bar Association Recognition Award The
Lawrence D. Brennan Award
Who's Who in America
Who's Who in American Law
Who's Who in American Law Schools & Universities
The Kentucky Bar Association
The Tennessee Bar Association
The Memphis Bar Association
The Christian Legal Society
Habitat for Humanity
Elder, Presbyterian Church

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Christina von Cannon Burdette is a licensed attorney and certified public accountant in Tennessee. She concentrates her practice on probate, estate planning, taxation and corporate law, but she is also active in family matters and litigation support.

Ms. Burdette received her B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting (double major) from Austin Peay State University. She earned her law degree from the University of Memphis in Memphis Tennessee where she served as the Managing Editor of the Law Review and was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award in three classifications.

She is admitted to practice before all of the courts in the State of Tennessee. In addition, Ms. Burdette is a member of the American Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Memphis Bar Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Burdette worked for several years as a Tax Consultant with the public accounting firm of Touche Ross (now Deloitte & Touche) in Dallas, Texas, where she earned her CPA license. She later served as the Assistant Manager, Federal Tax, for Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems. After completing her law degree, Ms. Burdette practiced law for nearly six years with the Memphis, Tennessee firm of Hanover, Walsh, Jalenak & Blair.

She and her family reside in Germantown, Tennessee

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Jessica S. Howard - Associate Attorney

Jessica S. Howard received her B.A. in Foreign Languages (French and Spanish) Summa Cum Laude from Lambuth University in Jackson, TN in August 2001. She made the Dean’s List each semester and received the Junior Academic Marshal Award. During her undergraduate studies, she served as Historian for the International Student Association (ISA) while it remained an active organization on campus. Her summer abroad studies took place at Regents College in London, England in July 2000 and at the Institute of American Universities in Aix-en-Provence, France in July 1999. Before enrolling in law school at the University of Memphis, she audited two semesters of an elementary Arabic language class purely for pleasure.

Later, she received her law degree from the Cecil C. Humphrey’s School of Law at the University of Memphis in December 2005 where she received Cali Awards for academic excellence in Copyright and Jurisprudence. While attending law school, she obtained Series 7 and 63 NASDAQ as well as Tennessee health and life insurance licenses, but she currently neither sells securities nor insurance at this time. During the spring of 2006, she became a Tennessee licensed attorney. Before coming on board as an associate attorney with Snider & Horner, PLLC in April 2007, she did research and drafting on an independent contract, as-needed basis with the following attorneys in Memphis, Tennessee: James T. Allison, Edward M. Bearman, Beth B. Brooks, Chris A. Cornaghie, David M. Sandy, William B. Seale, and Gary E. Veazey. Meanwhile, she also assisted with the Attorney of the Day Pro Se Clinic on Thursday afternoons, which is sponsored by Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS).

Her hobbies include Taekwondo (a Korean martial arts), swimming during the summer months, walking, general aerobics, studying foreign languages, reading, traveling overseas, going to the movies, dining out, and spending quality time with friends and family. Her favorite movie genres include action/adventure, comedy, period films, and historical documentaries. She has traveled to England, France, Scotland, Wales, Switzerland, India, and the Dominican Republic. Her favorite international foods include Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese. In January 2007, she began teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) classes on a voluntary basis to a few international friends who reside in Memphis

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Jeanie Snider - Legal Administrator
halvin@lawyer.com

Jeanie Snider has served as the Legal Administrator since the middle of 1998. She is directly responsible for client communications, legal research and drafting, and assisting the attorneys in preparing matters for trial. 

Jeanie’s employment background includes 12 years of service for the United States Department of Agriculture as a Program Specialist in Montgomery County, Iowa.  Prior to her relocation here, Ms. Snider actively participated in many organizations and activities in her community including the Jaycees, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and the city’s annual event “Red Oak Junction Days“ where she served as Chairperson.  In addition, she was a board member of the Women’s Golf committee, at the Red Oak Country Club, was a board member of the Red Oak Youth Wrestling Committee, and was active in coaching and assisting with youth activities such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball, and baseball sponsored by the local YMCA and Church Youth Groups.

Ms. Snider was born and raised in southwest Iowa and attended Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa and the University of Memphis where she pursued a Bachelors of Professional Studies with emphasis in Paralegal Studies.

Jeanie is an active member of the Shelby County Republican Women’s Club and serves as a Board Member and Chairperson of Special Events for the Club for 2006.  In addition, she is a stockholder and serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Andrew’s Enterprises a locally owned and operated company since 1995.

Ms. Snider enjoys watching her youngest son Ty play Lacrosse for Houston High School, golfing and boating with her husband, children, family and friends; as well as visiting her oldest children Amanda attending Iowa Western College and Chase at Iowa State University and various other family and friend around the country.

Jeanie and her husband Kevin reside in Germantown with their son Ty.

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Amanda Liles - Legal Assistant

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Crystal Johnson - Law Clerk

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