Laura DeRise is the Director of Attorney Recruiting at Bass, Berry & Sims. In this role, Laura is responsible for leading the firm-wide lateral partner, lateral associate and entry-level attorney recruiting across all offices nationally. Serving as a consultant to firm management, the executive committee and practice group chairs, she provides leadership and strategic vision in the development of the attorney recruiting strategy and process for the firm. Drawing upon her prior experience as an attorney search consultant and as a practicing attorney, Laura actively identifies and recruits potential lateral and entry-level attorneys from across the country. She serves as the firm’s primary point of contact for prospective lateral attorneys and for outside search firms interested in partnering with the firm in its recruitment efforts.

Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Laura was an attorney search consultant for two prominent international search firms and previously practiced as general counsel to a super-regional restaurant franchisor. She currently serves as the lateral recruiting section co-chair of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) and has been a speaker and author on topics such as leadership, talent acquisition strategy, career development, attorney wellness and business development negotiations.

Laura earned her bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and her J.D. from Ave Maria School of Law.