Attorney David S. Jones has joined Fisher & Phillips LLP as a partner in the firm’s Memphis office. Jones has more than 15 years’ experience in immigration and employment law, most recently serving as a partner at Jackson Lewis P.C. In his new role, he represents corporate clients in complex matters relating to both immigration benefits and enforcement, as well as export control compliance under the Export Administration Regulations and International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Attorney David S. Jones

Hometown: Memphis

Experience: Siskind Susser P.C., partner; Jones Stevenson, founding partner; Jackson Lewis P.C., shareholder; Fisher & Phillips LLP, partner

Family: Spouse, Alessandra (“Alie”); two sons, Liam and Evan

Favorite quote: “Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.” – John Paul Sartre

Favorite movie: “Star Wars: A New Hope”

The sports team(s) you root for: Florida Gators and Memphis Tigers

What’s playing on your stereo right now? Old blues

Activities you enjoy outside of work: Music, chess, physics

What talent do you wish you had? I love the guitar and wish I could play really well. I have channeled this love to actually making guitars.

Who has had the greatest influence on you and why? My parents, because they taught me what was important in life.

What attracted you to Fisher & Phillips? I joined Fisher & Phillips for several reasons. Primarily, though, I felt like the firm provided a better platform for my practice. I also thought the firm culture was a better fit for me personally. I was very impressed with the professionalism and friendliness of the attorneys in the firm.

What are your goals in your new position? Expand the footprint of Fisher & Phillips in the areas of immigration and export control.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? I hope my greatest accomplishment will be the men my sons grow up to be.

What do you most enjoy about your work? Unlike many areas of law, nothing I do is adversarial. I help companies and individuals achieve their goals. 

If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? To borrow from Confucius, do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.

David Carlson has joined State Systems Inc. as chief financial officer, a newly created position responsible for overseeing the finance, human resource and IT functions. Carlson began working with State Systems on a consulting basis last fall. He previously has served as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP; as vice president of finance for Medtronic Inc.; and as CFO for MRI Interventions. 

Biggam

Tipton

Beville

Chessie Biggam has joined nonprofit Meritan Inc. as development and communications coordinator, while Nathan Tipton has joined the agency as development and communications coordinator for Apelah, Meritan’s North Mississippi specialized foster care resource. Biggam is a 2014 graduate of the University of Memphis and is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. Tipton most recently served as communications and research coordinator in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Department of Preventive Medicine.

BNSF Railway Co. has named Kevin Beville, intermodal equipment operator, Intermodal Safety Employee of the Year. Beville works at the BNSF Memphis Intermodal facility and acts as the facilitator for the Behavior Accident Prevention Process, which has since expanded to Chicago and Seattle intermodal facilities. Beville played a key leadership role in making the roll out at all three locations successful.

Bailey Hill, an attorney with the Crone Law Firm, has been admitted to the Mississippi State Courts, the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals after passing the Mississippi Bar examination this spring. Hill is now licensed to practice in both Mississippi and Tennessee.

Trey Ball has joined Evans Petree PC as an associate, focusing his practice primarily in business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, commercial lending, and tax law. Ball worked as a certified public accountant for more than 10 years before earning his juris doctorate in 2015 from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law.

Jim Seeley has joined Shoemaker Financial in Germantown as client services and operations manager. In this role he will oversee the management of daily activities within the operations department and serve as an intermediary to senior management.

Pinecrest Retreat and Conference Center, located near Moscow, Tenn, has announced board members for the non-profit: Suzi Arant, Andy Combs, Lucy Cummings, Ted Dennis, Thor Kvande, Jere Lawson, Don McCrory (chairman), Elizabeth Owens, Richard Rucker, Robert Shaw (treasurer), Melissa Still (secretary) and K.C. Warren.