Nashville, Tenn. (November 8, 2018) – Bass, Berry & Sims is pleased to announce that Erica Bell Vick has been appointed to serve as chair of the firm’s Government Advocacy & Public Policy Practice Group. In this role, Vick will have responsibility for advocating for clients in their business interests before the Tennessee General Assembly and the executive branch departments, agencies and commissions of the state government.
“With vision, unparalleled experience and strong relationships, Erica is a highly regarded leader in this area,” said Todd Rolapp, managing partner of Bass, Berry & Sims. “Her team will continue to serve as the eyes and ears of clients – local, regional and national – on important issues that protect their business interests.”
Vick succeeds J. Richard “Dick” Lodge, who will be retiring at the end of the year. Lodge joined the firm in 1985 and served as chair of the practice for more than 20 years.
Since joining the firm in 2004, Vick has worked on multiple landmark public policy initiatives including enactment of the Civil Justice Act of 2011, the Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Act of 2017, the repeal of Tennessee’s gift and inheritance taxes, and passage of a constitutional amendment resolution regarding judicial selection.
Vick is a registered lobbyist handling high-stakes matters for financial companies, healthcare providers, higher education institutions, public utilities, trade organizations, distilled spirits manufacturers and more. She is an experienced commercial litigator and serves as general counsel to an association of Tennessee electric cooperatives. She regularly advises clients regarding campaign finance and ethics laws.
With extensive knowledge of Tennessee campaign finance law, Vick a co-authored the Tennessee chapter of the State Capital Group’s Lobbying, PACs and Campaign Finance: 50 State Handbook. She served on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Lobbyists Association from 2014 to 2016.
About Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
With more than 280 attorneys representing numerous publicly traded companies and Fortune 500 businesses, Bass, Berry & Sims has been involved in some of the largest and most significant litigation matters, investigations and business transactions in the country. For more information, visit bassberry.com.