J. FRANKLIN McCREARY. Mr. McCreary is a principal in Gerrish McCreary Smith Consultants, L.L.C. and a member of the Board of Directors of the Memphis based law firm of Gerrish McCreary Smith, P.C., Attorneys. Mr. McCreary’s practice includes the general representation of financial institutions with focus on mergers and acquisitions, corporate and securities matters (including trust preferred securities), strategic planning and dealing with regulators and regulatory matters. Mr. McCreary is also a certified mediator in the United States District Courts for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Tennessee, and a Tennessee Rule 31-listed mediator. In addition, he serves on the mediation and arbitration panels of the American Arbitration Association. Mr. McCreary’s twenty-five year banking career included serving as secretary and general counsel of one of Tennessee’s largest bank holding companies and as executive vice president in various credit related and general management positions. Mr. McCreary has also served as president and chief operating officer of a $1.2 billion asset publicly held bank.

Mr. McCreary obtained his B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Evansville, his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the Nashville School of Law and his Master of Business Administration degree from Vanderbilt University. Mr. McCreary has received advanced mediation training from the Pepperdine University School of Law’s Institute for Dispute Resolution, and advanced arbitration training from the American Arbitration Association. He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma honorary business scholastic fraternity. Mr. McCreary is a member of the American, Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations.

Mr. McCreary was named one of the best lawyers in Nashville by the Nashville Post in 2003 and is included in the 2005 through 2007 editions of The Best Lawyers in America. Mr. McCreary can be contacted at fmccreary@gerrish.com.