LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 3, 2012)—Stites & Harbison, PLLC, announced today that eight attorneys have been elected to membership in the law firm, effective Jan. 1, 2012. The new members are: Chadwick A. McTighe, David B. Owsley II, Angela R. Stephens, and Whitney Frazier Watt from the Louisville, Ky., office; and Erika R. Barnes, Edward H. Burrell, III, James C. Cotey, and Alexander C. Waddey from the Nashville, Tenn., office. Julie M. McDonnell from the Louisville, Ky., office was elected to counsel.

Chadwick A. McTighe is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Service Group and the Class Action Defense and Appellate Advocacy teams. His practice encompasses a wide range of business and commercial litigation matters, including extensive practice in class action litigation and in matters involving fiduciary duties and corporate governance disputes. He is admitted to practice in Kentucky.

David B. Owsley II is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Service Group. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, fiduciary duty and corporate governance litigation, patent litigation, antitrust litigation, trust and estate litigation, constitutional law, appellate practice, government and regulatory litigation, professional licensing board litigation, and legal ethics. He is admitted to practice in Kentucky.

Angela R. Stephens is a member of the firm’s Construction Law Service Group. Her practice is devoted primarily to construction law. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and uses her knowledge of sustainable design and construction to advise clients about various legal issues arising out of green or sustainable design and construction. She also is the first attorney in the Commonwealth of Kentucky to achieve Green Advantage® certification. In August 2011, Angela was nominated for the American Bar Association’s National Outstanding Young Lawyer Award by the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry. She is admitted to practice in Kentucky.

Whitney Frazier Watt is a member of the firm’s Torts & Insurance Practice and Business Litigation Service Groups. She has a wide-ranging practice that includes, but is not limited to, product liability cases, contract disputes, toxic tort cases, professional negligence cases, tortious interference cases, and mass actions. Watt serves as the Executive Editor of the American Bar Association’s Products Liability newsletter. She is admitted to practice in Kentucky.

Erika R. Barnes is a member of the firm’s Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy Service Group and the Business Litigation Service Group. She is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Kentucky. Barnes represents creditors and franchisors in bankruptcy cases nationwide. She also has experience representing creditors’ committees and Chapter 11 Trustees. She also handles complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts.

Edward H. Burrell, III, is a member of the firm’s Business & Corporate Services Group. He has a broad transactional practice with experience in a variety of industries. Burrell has extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, entity formation and governance, private equity transactions, corporate finance, shareholder disputes and commercial contracts. His experience with commercial contracts includes drafting, reviewing and negotiating various supply chain contracts and bid contracts and related terms and conditions for the purchase and supply of goods, services and raw materials. Burrell also acts as an outside general counsel advising clients on a variety of legal issues. He is admitted to practice in Tennessee.

James C. Cotey is a member of the firm’s Real Estate & Banking Service Group. Cotey represents lenders in connection with commercial lending transactions and works in the areas of sales and acquisitions of improved and unimproved real property, leasing, and commercial banking, with a focus on secured and unsecured loans. He also has significant experience in medical office building development and leasing. He is admitted to practice in Tennessee and Georgia.

Alexander C. Waddey is a member of the firm’s Real Estate & Banking Service Group and the Business & Corporate Services Group. His practice focuses on commercial lending and real estate transactions. He has significant experience representing lenders in connection with secured and unsecured commercial financings, including workouts on behalf of commercial lenders and mezzanine financings. Waddey was also a part of the firm’s conduit lending team that has closed loans in 47 states. He often represents national lenders in reviewing documentation for compliance with Tennessee law. Waddey is actively involved with a number of charitable organizations, including serving on the board of Ronald McDonald House. He is admitted to practice in Tennessee.

Julie M. McDonnell is a member of the firm’s Torts & Insurance Practice Service Group. She is experienced in handling medical and product liability litigation involving drugs, medical devices, and other consumer products. She also has experience in toxic tort matters involving exposure to asbestos, welding fumes, and coal dust/silica. McDonnell also represents hospitals, physicians, and nursing homes in personal injury and premises liability matters. She has tried several cases to jury verdict and has experience handling appellate issues. She is admitted to practice in Kentucky.