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Meet the Team

At Hairston and Associates

Get to know our exceptional team of legal professionals

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Roland T. Hairston, II

Founding Attorney & Mediator

Donielle Beaty

Associate Attorney

Heather Crocker

Paralegal + Office Manager

Brianna Santiago

Paralegal

Marie Pryor

Legal Assistant

Our Promise to You

What Makes Our Lawyers Stand Out

Experience

Would you trust a doctor who has never done a surgery? Of course not! Our attorneys are seasoned litigators who know how to get things done

Honesty

Do you want a lawyer who will run up the bill just because they can? That’s not us. We are committed to telling you the truth and treating you with the personalized care and respect you deserve.

Communication

Healthy communication is key in any relationship, especially an attorney-client relationship. When you hire our office, rest-assured that we will prioritize making sure you know and understand what’s going on in your case.

Roland T. Hairston, II

Founding Attorney & Mediator

Roland T. Hairston, II began Hairston & Associates with a simple vision to treat others the way he would want to be treated. Over a thousand cases and many years later, that vision remains the same.

Mr. Hairston has developed a hard-earned reputation for providing sage advice and strategic advocacy to clients throughout Middle Tennessee. No matter the complexity or posture of a case, Mr. Hairston prides himself on working to make sure each client feels seen and heard both in the office and in the courtroom.

Hairston & Associates’ narrow focus on Family Law, Estate Planning and Probate cases has allowed the firm to have a depth of experience and relationship with the judges, clerks and other attorneys in Middle Tennessee. Additionally, as a Rule 31 Listed Family Law Mediator with Domestic Violence Certification, Mr. Hairston also helps others find resolution to the most pressing issues in their cases.

Mr. Hairston is an active member of the Nashville Bar Association, where he is honored to serve as the current co-chair of the Estate Planning and Probate Section and a member of the Domestic Relations Section.

When client’s describe Mr. Hairston, the words “honest”, “caring”, “professional” and “attentive” are often used among other kind words. He is passionate about providing top-notch legal representation for all because everyone deserves a zealous advocate in their time of need. He is well known in the community and in the courtroom as a respectable and professional lawyer as well as a genuine and compassionate person.

Roland lives in Nashville, TN with his wife and has two children who are college students. He enjoys watching sports and being an active member of his church.

Donielle Beaty

Associate Attorney

Donielle M. Beaty grew up in Decatur, Alabama where she always knew she wanted to practice as an attorney. Mrs. Beaty attended the University of Alabama as a first-generation college student, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts, one semester early, with a major in Political Science and minor in Psychology. Following graduation, Mrs. Beaty attended The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. At the UoM, Mrs. Beaty found her passion for litigation and helping others during the hardest times in their lives through her participation in travel Moot Court teams. Through her participation in Moot Court, Mrs. Beaty honed her ability to write and argue effectively in front of her peers and practicing attorneys.

While at the UoM, Mrs. Beaty also participated in an externship at Memphis Area Legal Services in the family law unit, as well as maintained a position as a legal assistant with a solo family law practitioner for two years wherein she continued to refine her writing skills.

Prior to joining Hairston & Associates, Mrs. Beaty maintained an associate attorney position with a well-respected and in-demand family law attorney in Memphis, Tennessee for over three years. Mrs. Beaty’s impressive range of work has included everything from drafting complicated pleadings and appellate briefs to representing children’s best interest as a Guardian Ad Litem. These experiences helped Mrs. Beaty cultivate the skills needed to communicate effectively with and advocate for her clients. Mrs. Beaty has upheld a life-long desire to practice family law and advocate for clients that are experiencing some of the most difficult hardships, which continues to this day.

Heather Crocker

Paralegal + Office Manager

Heather Crocker is a native of Richmond, VA who, like so many others, has made Nashville home and loves it! Prior to relocating to Music City, Heather studied Psychology and Criminal Justice at Radford University. Her professional career has been a blend of customer service and document review preparing her perfectly for her role as Paralegal at Hairston & Associates.

In her free time, Heather enjoys curling up with a good book. Heather’s attention to detail and professionalism are a great asset to our clients.

Brianna Santiago

Paralegal

Brianna Santiago grew up in New Jersey where she completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Rutgers University before deciding to attend law school. At Hairston & Associates, Brianna assists clients by making sure cases are moving along efficiently as one of our talented paralegals through skillful drafting of pleadings and correspondence and keeping attorneys, clients and the Court informed.

Brianna doesn’t have much free time these days as she spends evenings and weekends finishing her Doctorate of Jurisprudence before sitting for the bar exam in 2027 but enjoys reading and cooking when she can.

¿Hablas Español? ¡Pregunta por Brianna!

Marie Pryor

Legal Assistant

Marie Pryor is a Nashville-native who completed her paralegal studies in 2025 after a long career in restaurant service. She is a hard worker who uses her warm touch with people to assess and meet client needs as Legal Assistant at Hairston & Associates.

In her free time, Marie enjoys baking and spending time with her German Shepherd, Luna and Alaskan Husky, Sky. Marie’s “can do” attitude helps our clients get just what they need.