Mitzi McLean
Partner and Director of Knowledge Management
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Overview
Mitzi McLean is a Partner and Director of Knowledge Management at Freeman Mathis & Gary, where she focuses on developing and advancing systems that enhance the firm’s ability to deliver consistent, efficient, and high-quality legal work across practice groups and jurisdictions. In this role, she works at the intersection of litigation, innovation, and legal operations—helping translate the firm’s collective experience into scalable, practical resources that support attorneys and clients alike.
Mrs. McLean brings more than 18 years of experience in complex civil litigation and enterprise litigation management. Prior to joining the firm, she served as Director, Assistant General Counsel at DaVita Inc., where she led litigation strategy and oversight for professional and general liability matters nationwide. Her background includes extensive experience in insurance defense, claims and litigation management, and developing operational frameworks that improve consistency, reduce risk, and drive efficiency across large organizations.
Earlier in her career, Mrs. McLean practiced in private law firms, defending a broad range of civil matters including construction defect, trucking, premises liability, product liability, and insurance coverage and bad faith claims. She has handled cases through all phases of litigation, including trial and appeal, and has presented to industry and legal audiences on litigation management and best practices.
Mrs. McLean obtained her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Park, and MBA from the University of Mississippi. She earned her J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law where she enjoyed competing as a member of the school’s Moot Court Board.
Outside of her practice, Mitzi enjoys running, traveling, wine tasting, and spending time with her husband and son. As a Chicago native, she is a devoted fan of Chicago professional sports teams, while her household maintains a friendly—but competitive—rivalry in collegiate athletics rooted in differing SEC allegiances.
Bar Admissions
Mississippi
- Mississippi State Courts
Tennessee
- Tennessee State Courts
Education
J.D.
Mississippi College School of Law
MBA
University of Mississippi
B.A.
University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Park
Publications & Engagements
- Reservation of Rights: A North American Compendium, Primary Author of Tennessee Law, 2011
- Construction Litigation Desk Reference: Fifty State Guide to Construction Litigation, Author of Mississippi Law, 2010
Representative Cases & Clients
- Franklin County Mem. Hospital v. Miss. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., 975 So.2d 872 (Miss. 2008)
- Washington v. TEM’s Junior, Inc., 981 So.2d 1047 (Miss. App. 2008)
- Spann v. Shuqualak Lumber Co., 990 So.2d 186 (Miss. 2008)
- McKee v. Weather Shield Manufacturing, Inc., 64 So.3d 926 (Miss. 2011)
- Howard v. Wilson, 62 So.3d 955 (Miss. 2011)
Affiliations
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
- ClaimsXChange
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
Awards & Recognition
- Mid-South Rising Star 2012, 2013 and 2014; 2022
- DaVita Core Value Award Recipient
Classes/Seminars Taught
- Insurance Coverage and Bad-Faith: Red Flags & Pitfalls to Avoid, 2018-2021
- Mandatory Insurer Reporting Information: Anderson Crawley & Burke, PLLC, Has the Answers to Your Questions, 2009
- Litigation Management & Billing, Enterprise Litigation Teams 2015 – 2020
- Harassment Awareness & Prevention, Enterprise 2018 – 2019
- Shots Fired? – Liability to Fleeting Guests, CLM Annual Meeting 2019
- Battle of the Experts: Selecting, Retaining, Preparing and Disclosing an Expert Witness, Magna 2019
- Removing The Pits from Your Peachy Case: How to Lower Damages by Fighting Life Care Planner Opinions, CLM Annual Meeting 2021
- My Heart, Not My Head: Themes That Work During Trial annd Impact of Emotion on Jury Verdicts. March 2026. Moderated by: Rich Lenkov, Esq., Capital Member, Downey & Lenkov LLC. Co-Panelists: Matthew Morrison, AMFam Group, Vice President – Litigation and Lauren Bellamy, Grady, Senior Associate General Counsel.
Education
J.D.
Mississippi College School of Law
MBA
University of Mississippi
B.A.
University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Park