Anne M. McKinney – Our Founder

(Retired 2024)

Anne M. McKinney founded Anne M. McKinney, P.C. – now known as McKinney & Tillman, P.C. – in 1992 with the goal of providing professional, compassionate legal counsel to East Tennessee families. After receiving her law degree in 1976 (as one of only 22 women in a class of 119), Anne served as an Estate and Gift Tax Attorney with the Internal Revenue Service for ten years before entering private practice to focus her practice on matters of probate and trust administration, estate planning and taxation. Anne has been honored by her fellow attorneys on several occasions, making regular appearances on rosters of top attorneys including: CityView Magazine’s “Top Attorneys” list, Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.

Throughout her career, Anne has shared her knowledge and experience with other professionals and has been a frequent lecturer for The University of Tennessee, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Society of CPAs, and the Duke Estate Planning Conference. She is the author of Estate Planning in Tennessee (two printings), and is working on multiple writing projects in her retirement.

Anne graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law and received her undergraduate degree from Duke University, magna cum laude. She lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband, Lt. Col. G. Larry Hartsook (US Army Tenth Special Forces Group, Ret.), and frequent visits from her adult son, Rand McKinney.

About Victoria

Victoria B. Tillman is the managing shareholder of the law firm, McKinney & Tillman, P.C., having joined the firm in 2002. She enjoys serving her clients in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administrations, estate and gift taxes, business formation, business succession planning, and formation of tax-exempt organizations and approval of tax-exempt status. Victoria is a member of the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), as well as a member of the Knoxville and Tennessee Bar Associations and the Knoxville Estate Planning Council. She has served on the Board of the Knoxville Estate Planning Council and is a past President of the Council. Victoria is an adjunct professor for The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Winston College of Law, teaching its Estate Planning Seminar, and prior to that course, she assisted with the Wills Clinic at the College. Victoria is a frequent lecturer for several local organizations and groups. Victoria received her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Memphis School of Law, and her Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with a major in accounting, from Memphis State University, graduating summa cum laude. Victoria plays an active role in the community through many channels of service; she and her family are active members of their church and especially enjoy going on short-term mission trips. Victoria resides in north Knox County with her husband, Keith, her daughter, Ellen, and her doodle named Charley. Her son is an AEMT in Anderson County, Tennessee.

About Patrick

Patrick McKenrick joined McKinney & Tillman, P.C. as an associate attorney in 2017, after previously working with the firm before attending law school. He became a shareholder of the firm in 2024. Patrick focuses his practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, probate, conservatorships, and probate litigation.

Patrick received his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 2010. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Patrick is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Blount County Bar Association, and the Tennessee Bar Association. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Knoxville Estate Planning Council. He has previously taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law, specifically with the Homer A. Jones Wills Clinic.

When not in the office, Patrick spends most of his time with his wife and two children at their home in South Knoxville. He is known to occasionally run, ski, and cook.

About Jarek

Jarek Hall joined McKinney & Tillman, P.C. as an Associate in 2024.  Jarek focuses his practice on the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, business formation, succession planning, and charitable organizations.

Jarek received his JD from the University of Tennessee Winston College of Law, an MBA from Liberty University, and a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Finance from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Knoxville and Tennessee Bar Associations. 

Before joining the firm, Mr. Hall served on active duty in the United States Coast Guard and currently serves as an officer in the Coast Guard Reserves, supporting various emergency response, maritime security, and legal contingency operations.  Earlier in his career, he spent seven years as a financial and business analyst.

During law school, Jarek concentrated his studies on complex transactional law, completing advanced coursework in trusts and estate planning, business associations, corporate taxation, mergers and acquisitions and real estate.  He gained practical experience as a student attorney in the Wills Clinic and Transactional Law Clinic, representing individuals and organizations in matters involving estate planning, business and nonprofit formations, strategic planning, and corporate governance.  As a research assistant, Jarek contributed to the 2025 supplementation and internal revision of George Bogert’s Treatise on the Law of Trusts and Trustees. He further honed his skills as a Law Clerk for The Trust Company of Tennessee, deepening his knowledge of fiduciary and corporate matters.

Outside of the office, Jarek is an avid baseball fan and enjoys traveling, playing golf and spending time with his wife, Kate, and their two daughters, Evy and Allegra.

About Leslie

Leslie Peal has worked with McKinney & Tillman, P.C. for over twenty years, and presently serves as one of the firm’s legal assistants focused on estate planning. She regularly helps our attorneys implement customized estate plans, Wills, and Trusts for clients, and she often works directly with clients to ensure that their asset titling and beneficiary designations achieve their estate planning goals. Leslie has more than 30 years of experience in the legal field. Prior to joining the firm, she was the legal secretary for a Sevier County litigator, and she also was the legal secretary for the staff attorney of a legal aid office in Brevard County, Florida. Leslie moved to East Tennessee in the fall of 1995, and she lives in South Knoxville with her husband, Dean, and their son.

About Carolyn

Formerly a journalist and public relations professional, Carolyn Gray applies her analytical and communications skills to supporting the firm’s attorneys in part by drafting documents and helping communicate with clients regarding their estate plans. She assists with all aspects of estate planning, wills and trusts, including the important follow-up work to make sure clients’ plans work as intended. Carolyn has been a Certified Paralegal since 2024 and is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants and the Smoky Mountain Paralegal Association. Before joining the firm in 2009, Carolyn worked as a freelance writer and editor for print and online publications including hgtv.com, diynetwork.com and the Custom Publishing arm of The Knoxville News Sentinel. Her experience also includes 11 years as an account executive with the prestigious Moxley Carmichael public relations firm, serving many of Knoxville’s largest and best-known companies and community leaders. She originally came to Knoxville in 1988 to work in the editorial staff of Whittle Communications. Carolyn graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame with dual majors in Psychology and in Film and Video Production. She also holds a master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her husband, Tom Booker, owns and operates Broadway Family Karate in the Fountain City area of Knoxville; they have one adult daughter, Emma.

About Arlene

With over 40 years of experience in the legal field – most of it in estate planning and probate/trust administration – Arlene Shoemaker brings a remarkable depth of experience to her work supporting our attorneys with all aspects of probate and trust administration. She assists with many of our largest and most complex estates, and is highly skilled at helping guide Executors and Trustees through the sometimes-intimidating process of settling a deceased person’s affairs. Arlene is a Certified Paralegal and a longtime member of the National Association of Legal Assistants and the Smoky Mountain Paralegal Association. Arlene has been with McKinney & Tillman since July 2008. Prior to moving to Tennessee, Arlene built an impressive career in the Palm Beach area of Florida, where she worked with a well-known Boynton Beach lawyer/Mayor for 20 years. She also served with a prestigious law firm on the island of Palm Beach. A native Floridian, Arlene moved from south Florida to Maryville, Tennessee in March, 2005 with her husband, Joe, and three children. In her spare time, Arlene enjoys exploring East Tennessee parks and waterfalls, kayaking, and doing anything else in the great outdoors with her husband, children and grandchildren.

About Michelle

Michelle began her paralegal career in 2020. She has experience with family law, employment law, personal injury law, zoning law, and real estate law. She also has gained experience in estate planning and probate law. Michelle joined our firm as a paralegal in April 2025. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies. She is a member of the Smoky Mountain Paralegal Association and is currently pursuing her Paralegal Certification. In her free time, Michelle enjoys reading and writing.

About Katie

Katie Hirschy has worked with McKinney & Tillman, P.C. for 3 years, and presently serves as one of the firm’s administrative assistants. Her primary role is scheduling appointments, but you may also see her at the front desk, filling in for her mom, Diane. Katie also creates new client matters and serves as the primary point of contact through our computer software, Clio, for new clients. Katie graduated with an associate’s degree from Roane State Community College in Contemporary Management and Science in 2020. Katie was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee and lives with her husband of 5 years, Alex, and their 2-year-old son, Levi. In her spare time, Katie enjoys reading, drinking coffee, baking, doing a Peloton ride, or taking a nap.

About Suzie

Suzie Campbell has served as the Office Manager for McKinney & Tillman, P.C. since 2009, and she is the primary point of contact for client accounts and billing, ensuring that our clients are satisfied not only with the legal services that we provide, but also with the fees charged for those services. Suzie also handles the firm’s general accounting, human resources, and payroll. Immediately before joining the firm, Suzie managed the accounting operations for Priority Home Health services. Prior to that, she served for nearly 20 years in several administrative roles at the Knoxville Cancer Center, supervising the Accounting Department and overseeing all front-office operations. Suzie’s experience also includes four years as an account executive at Knox Federal Savings & Loan (now a part of Regions Bank). Suzie is a member of the National Association of Legal Administrators and a member of the Knoxville Association of Legal Administrators, where she has served on the Chapter’s Board of Directors for five years and serving two terms as Chapter President. Suzie is married with two grown children and two beautiful grandchildren. She enjoys traveling, boating, camping and spending time with her family.

About Diane P.

Diane Patterson joined McKinney & Tillman, P.C. as an administrative assistant in 2012, and she is often our clients’ first point of contact with the firm, ensuring that clients’ exceptional experience begins from the moment that they call or walk in the door. Diane has more than thirty years of experience in the secretarial field. In addition to greeting visitors and handling telephone calls, Ms. Patterson provides support to the office manager, attorneys, and all other personnel. She also processes the mail, assists with the calendar, handles routine correspondence with clients, and performs a variety of other tasks essential to the firm. Diane has lived in Knox County, Tennessee for several years. She has two grown children, one grandson and a granddaughter on the way. In her spare time, Diane enjoys spending time with her family and making crafts.

About Diane W.

Diane Wyrick has been with McKinney & Tillman since July 2024 as a part time administrative assistant for the firm. Diane provides support to all staff members and assists with many tasks for the firm, from seating clients to answering the telephone, to assisting with signing conferences, and many other duties as assigned. Prior to joining the firm, Diane retired after 40 years from a large Knoxville Physician Practice specializing in the treatment of cancer and was a Certified Professional Coder. Diane was born and raised in Knoxville and graduated from Central High School and has been married for 49 years to Cris Wyrick. Diane loves to read, work jigsaw puzzles, and work outdoors in her flower beds when her allergies allow.