Partner Reflection: Jonathan Tepe
By Jonathan Tepe, Nashville Partner | September 2024
As I was nearing the end of my clerkship for then U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in 2018, I received an offer from Sanford Heisler Sharp to join its Nashville, Tennessee office as a Litigation Fellow. Although I had never lived in the south and knew very few people in the area, I decided to take the leap and move across the country because I was excited by Sanford Heisler Sharp's strong commitment to its public interest mission and the opportunity to use my legal skills to move the law in a positive direction.
Joining Sanford Heisler Sharp turned out to be one of the best decisions of my career. The Sanford Heisler Sharp attorneys are incredibly smart and dedicated to their cases, and I am always impressed by the incredibly high quality work product SHS produces. Although we frequently go up against law firms that are many times our size, our compelling legal writing and creative arguments allow us to consistently achieve great outcomes.
I could not have found a better place to hone my skills and grow as an attorney. The firm has a genuinely collegial environment where people are kind and willing to take time out of their day to help mentor and advise each other. I have learned so much working with the amazing attorneys in our Nashville office like Kevin Sharp and Leigh Anne St. Charles. Sanford Heisler Sharp also gave me ample opportunities to gain experience and take on leadership roles, both on cases and in the firm. As a result, I was able to work my way up to becoming a Partner in 2023.
During my five and a half years at the firm, I have been fortunate enough to work on a wide range of important cases, including representing dozens of cities and counties in their claims against the opioid industry, helping a Cuban citizen appeal the denial of his asylum claim, and representing a class of over 700 auto workers alleging age discrimination against Volkswagen. I have also had the opportunity to represent many amazing individual clients that faced unlawful discrimination and retaliation in their jobs, and it is extremely rewarding to build relationships with our clients and advocate on their behalf as they navigate such difficult situations.
I am thankful every day that I get to help defend civil rights and advocate for those with less power, and I am so excited to see what we will be able to accomplish in the future.