University of Kentucky JD/MBA dual degree alum, Chris Johnson, is now a licensed Associate at the prestigious Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC in Nashville, Tennessee. Bass, Berry & Sims is a Tennessee-based law firm with more than 270 attorneys representing and advising Fortune 500 companies as well as regional and local businesses, including acting as the principle corporate counsel for approximately 30 public companies. Their attorneys have been involved in some of the largest and most important business and litigation matters in the country.
“I am thrilled to have earned this opportunity at Bass and there's not really a typical day in my practice, says Chris. On a given day I advise clients on SEC reporting compliance (8-Ks, 10-Ks, etc.), advise public and private clients who are buying and selling other companies, advise public and private clients on corporate governance issues, and help with the issuance of asset-backed securities."
Founded in 1922, Bass, Berry & Sims continues to lead clients through increasingly complex legal challenges. They have more than 75 practice groups along with offices located in Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis and Washington, D.C. Some of the recent accolades include 7 practices ranked #1 in Tennessee along with 42 attorneys listed as leaders in Chambers USA 2018, named “Tennessee Firm of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation (2018, 2017, 2015, 2012) and 90 attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2019.
Regarding the importance of having an MBA, Chris said, "Having an MBA coupled with a JD made me more desirable to employers. Multiple interviewers specifically told me that I was brought in because of my dual education. Obtaining an MBA was not only crucial in making my resume stand out in the application process, but it has allowed me to hit the ground running with my corporate practice. I think law school is great for teaching you how to think critically and solve problems; however, it simply cannot prepare you to adequately understand a balance sheet, or more fundamentally, how a business operates. As a result, I can better focus my development on substantive issues of corporate and securities law."
The University of Kentucky's Gatton College of Business and Economics and the College of Law recognized recognize that some aspects of business and law are compatible and interrelated. As a result, JD/MBA Dual Degree was launched which allows qualified candidates to pursue specialized, blended careers in law and management. As an extra benefit, both degrees can be obtained in only three years, instead of the four to five years required if the degrees were pursued separately.
"In my practice I use something I learned in the UK MBA program every single day, Chris says. While clients often want technical legal advice, they similarly want practical business advice. Being able to provide strategic business advice is a great way to add value for your clients and to stand out in your firm as a young lawyer. Being able to understand a client’s business is absolutely necessary no matter the field of practice."
The JD/MBA Dual Degree program offered at the University of Kentucky can be pursued either through the full-time, One Year MBA or the two-year Professional MBA program.
About the value of the UK MBA, Chris says, "Another great benefit of the MBA program is the people you will meet along the way. The group-based projects utilized by the MBA program allows students to make personal connections inside and outside of the classroom. As an aspiring lawyer, it's very advantageous to begin making connections with current and future business leaders. As a result, the close personal connections you can make in an MBA program can pay great dividends down the road."
Chris earned his law degree and MBA from the University of Kentucky’s College of Law and Gatton College of Business and Economics through the JD/MBA Dual Degree program. Chris also earned both his B.S. in Economics and B.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Kentucky. Chris is part of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) and his accolades include the Kentucky Law Journal, Trial Advocacy Board and the CALI Award in Business Associations, Corporate Tax, Legal Drafting, Secured Transactions, and Tax I. Chris' future career goal is to eventually become a partner at Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC.