Firm Hires Three New Lateral Members – Christian Blair, Kate Hardey and Kathryn Moore – and Four Additional Attorneys
Nashville, Tenn., (June 25, 2026) – In continuation of the firm’s strategic growth plan, Bass, Berry & Sims is pleased to announce the addition of seven new attorneys across nearly all of the firm’s offices. Joining Bass, Berry & Sims as members in each of the firm’s three regions are: Christian Blair (Chicago), Kate Hardey (Washington, D.C.), and Kathryn Moore (Nashville).
“We are pleased to welcome this talented group of lateral attorneys to the firm,” said Todd Rolapp, managing partner of Bass, Berry & Sims. “Their collective experience across multiple practices reflects a deliberate investment in areas aligned with our strategic growth priorities. Just as importantly, each brings a strong client-first mindset that enhances our ability to deliver practical, high-value counsel across the markets and industries we serve.”
Since the beginning of 2025, Bass, Berry & Sims has added 50 lateral attorneys, including 10 members in 2026 from various Am Law 100 firms and the U.S. Department of Justice. This includes the opening of the firm’s Chicago office in May 2026 with the addition of members Jason W. Gordon and Robert Newman; Nashville members Rachel S. Byrd, Nora Katz, Erin Palmer Polly, and Ben Schrader; and Washington, D.C. member Kelly Hightower Hibbert. These additions align directly with the firm’s strategic priorities, particularly in areas such as healthcare, technology transactions, data privacy, private equity, and government investigations.
Christian Blair – IP, Media & Technology
Christian Blair joins as a member in the firm’s newly launched Chicago office. He advises companies on data‑driven business operations, privacy compliance, intellectual property strategy, and technology transactions, with a focus on helping clients navigate evolving regulatory frameworks while supporting commercial growth. Blair is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and works with clients across a range of technology‑focused industries.
Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Blair practiced at Reed Smith LLP alongside Gordon and Newman who officially launched the Bass, Berry & Sims Chicago office earlier this year. Blair earned his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law (2018) and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Briar Cliff University (2015).
* Christian Blair is currently admitted to practice in Texas; his Illinois application is pending.
Kate Hardey – Healthcare & Life Sciences
Kate Hardey joins as a member in Washington, D.C. She advises healthcare and life sciences companies, investors, and lenders on complex transactions and regulatory matters, with a focus on medical device, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, dietary supplement, and other FDA-regulated products, as well as private equity investments across the healthcare industry. Her experience spans middle market to multibillion dollar deals involving FDA regulated assets and complex healthcare, life sciences, and healthcare adjacent businesses. Hardey is recognized for her ability to integrate FDA, healthcare regulatory, transactional, and operational considerations, drawing on extensive industry experience as in house legal counsel within a large hospital system and as a physician practice manager to bring practical insight to clients navigating highly regulated environments.
Before joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Hardey was a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. She earned a law degree from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Marymount University, and an undergraduate degree from George Mason University.
Kathryn Moore – Healthcare
Kathryn Moore joins as a member in Nashville. She advises healthcare clients on a broad range of transactional, regulatory, and operational matters, with a particular focus on complex healthcare mergers and acquisitions. Moore works closely with clients throughout the full lifecycle of a transaction, guiding them through regulatory diligence, deal execution, and post-closing compliance. In addition to her transactional practice, Moore counsels healthcare organizations on navigating complex state and federal regulatory frameworks governing licensure, certification, corporate practice of medicine issues, fee-splitting, and reimbursement.
Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Moore was a partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. She earned a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law (2014) and an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi (2011).
Additional Hires in Tennessee
In addition to the three members above, Bass, Berry & Sims added four additional attorneys in Tennessee in alignment with the comprehensive strategic assessment completed last year.
William E. Routt, III (Senior Litigation Attorney, Memphis) has nearly 20 years of complex litigation experience focused on contract disputes and business torts. He has litigated cases from pleadings to appeals across a wide variety of industries including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, insurance, legal malpractice, and entertainment. Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Routt was a litigation attorney at law firms Watson Burns PLLC (Memphis), Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC (Memphis), and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan, LLP (Los Angeles). He earned a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law (2008) and a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes College (2005).
Lynn Gurskey (Associate, Nashville) focuses on healthcare fraud and abuse matters, government investigations, and complex commercial litigation. Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Gurskey was an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. After law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings with the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Gurskey received her law degree from Vanderbilt Law School (2023) and her undergraduate degree from Lipscomb University (2018).
Meg Hancock Klein (Associate, Nashville) counsels clients in complex business litigation, healthcare fraud and abuse matters, and government investigations. Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Klein was an associate at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. She received her law degree from Vanderbilt Law School (2023) and her undergraduate degree from Duke University (2020). During law school, Klein served as a law clerk to Magistrate Judge Chip Frensley with the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Elena R. Mosby (Associate, Memphis) represents clients in complex litigation, internal and government investigations, and regulatory matters, with a particular focus on white collar defense and healthcare fraud. Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Mosby was an associate at Burch, Porter & Johnson, PLLC, in its Memphis office. Earlier in her career, Mosby worked with the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division’s Fraud Section (Health Care Fraud Unit). After law school she served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Judge Rhesa H. Barksdale of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, and for the Honorable Judge Kristi H. Johnson of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi. Mosby received her law degree from the University of Mississippi Law School (2021) and her undergraduate degree from Rhodes College (2015).
About Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
Bass, Berry & Sims is an independent, nationally recognized law firm dedicated to helping clients go confidently through complex legal challenges. We deliver high-caliber counsel and exceptional service to leading middle market companies across industry sectors, with particular focus in the healthcare and private equity industries. For over a century, our team has partnered with clients across the country on sophisticated transactions, significant litigation and investigations, and international regulatory matters. We collaborate seamlessly with deep experience across practice areas, industries, and geographies to provide innovative, business-focused solutions that create measurable value. For more information, visit www.bassberry.com.