Since graduating from Wake Forest University School of Law, Tanner has seen the practice of law from several unique perspectives. He started his career clerking for Chief Judge Martin Reidinger of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. During his clerkship with Judge Reidinger, Tanner was fortunate to have a front-row seat as he helped the court manage cases at every stage of litigation, from filing through trial. Tanner then joined the firm’s complex commercial litigation team, where he worked with and learned from numerous well-seasoned litigators, while representing local businesses to Fortune 500 Companies. After his first year with Kilpatrick, Tanner clerked for Judge Steve Grasz of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Clerking for Judge Grasz gave Tanner invaluable insight into how appellate judges approach difficult cases, identify the issues that matter the most, and communicate their conclusions clearly and precisely.

During law school, Tanner worked with the firm as a summer associate after interning for Chief Judge Chris Dillon of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He also enjoyed serving as a research assistant to Professor Michael D. Green, as the Editor-in-Chief of the Wake Forest Law Review, and as Captain of Wake Forest’s National Trial Team while he was in law school.

While attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Tanner served in student government and interned for Senator Richard Burr and Congressman Mark Walker.