MICHELLE OWENS
Attorney
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Michelle was born in Duncan, Oklahoma but was raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. As the daughter of a veterinarian, she learned early the benefits of compassion for the vulnerable. As a competitive gymnast and college cheerleader, Michelle also learned the values of hard work and determination. It is no wonder, then, that her natural inclination to help and to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves led her to the study of law.
Michelle earned her B.A. from Baylor University (Chi Omega for life!) and her M.A. in Social Work from University of Texas. While in Texas, she worked as a medical social worker for the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, providing case management, counseling, and crisis intervention to families on surgery and neurology services. She also provided educational seminars on family issues to medical students.
She moved from Texas to Tennessee in 1996 to take a job as the Director of Counseling Program at Franklin Road Academy, in Nashville. Along with mentoring and managing school counselors in Lower and Middle school, she also provided crisis intervention. It was her time here which ultimately led her to pursue her J.D. at the Nashville School of Law, where she graduated in the top 10% of her class.
After graduating, she became the Managing Partner at Agee Owens & Cooper, LLC, where her litigation practice focused on labor and administrative law, Title IX, and education law. Michelle also handled appellate work, arbitrations, mediation, and administrative hearings for professionals dealing with their licensing board for various matters, as well as for and labor matters. She worked directly with universities in disciplinary hearings and Title IX conduct matters. In fact, her work in Title IX and due process even caught the eye of former Education Assistant to Betsy DeVos. Her unique insight into these issues is invaluable to our clients because Michelle’s knowledge of the laws – and ability to “think” like a defense attorney – helps her prepare the folks she represents for all possible curveballs and scenarios. Michelle has been admitted to the Eastern, Middle, and Western federal courts in Tennessee, and to three federal courts of appeal. This path had led to her being a tremendous litigator.
When she’s not preparing or trying cases, you can find Michelle traveling, hanging out with her husband of 28 years, Dan, at her lake house in Tullahoma, or cheering on her twins who are sophomores at Baylor. Ever the animal lover, Michelle’s three English Setters are rarely far away (they like spending time on the water, too!). She is an active member of the Brentwood Baptist Church.