Mr. Franks is a principal in Manier & Herod. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1971 and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1974. Mr. Franks is a frequent author and speaker in the area of surety law. Mr. Franks is co-author of the following publications: "Payment Bond Manual", Tennessee Chapter, ABA, 3d ed. 2006; "Arbitration and the Contract Surety: Inclusion and Preclusion," Tort and Insurance Journal Vol. 32 No. 4, Summer 1997; "Fifty State Public Construction Contracting," Chapter 44, Wiley Law Publications, Tennessee, 1995; "Prepetition Planning for Contract Sureties," The Construction Lawyer, August 1995; "Specific Performance of the Indemnity Agreement," The Construction Lawyer, April 1992; "Fifty State Construction Lien and Bond Law," Chapter 43, Wiley Law Publications, Tennessee, 1992; "A Defense of Established Landmarks: Claims of Construction Sureties to Contract Funds Under Chapter 11," Tort & Insurance Law Journal, Fall 1989; "Entitlement to Contract Funds Among Competing Surety, Lender, Contractor and the Internal Revenue Service," The Construction Lawyer, November 1989.