It’s with deep sorrow and sense of loss that Neal & Harwell recognizes the passing of our friend and former partner, Allaire Urban Karzon. Allaire was truly a trailblazer in the legal community and had an outstanding career.

She joined James F. Neal and Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr. in forming the firm of Neal, Karzon & Harwell, predecessor to Neal & Harwell. She was the first woman to be a partner in a Nashville law firm and was the first woman to be a named partner in any firm in the state.

Aubrey Harwell said, “Allaire was a great partner, and an excellent lawyer; and Jim Neal and I were very proud of Allaire’s talents, as indicated by her being named one of the original partners of our law firm.”

She earned her law degree from Yale Law School and began her career with the United States Department of Justice, followed by RCA Corporation.

She moved to Nashville with her husband, Dr. David Karzon, who was President of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She served as counsel to Performance Systems, successor to Minnie Pearl Fried Chicken.

She served as General Counsel to Aladdin Industries, working with her long-time friend, Aladdin Chairman and President, Victor Johnson. She was also Vanderbilt Law School’s first tenured female professor.

Her civic accomplishments included serving as President to the Board of Directors of the Visiting Nurses Association in Buffalo and as a member of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood of Nashville.

All of us at Neal & Harwell ask you to join us in expressing our deepest condolences to Allaire’s family and loved ones.