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Adams and Reese Executive Committee Chair Clarence Wilbon is featured in the “How I Made It” Leadership Series and Q&A by ALM/Law.com.
In addition to leading the strategic operations and growth of the AmLaw 200 and NLJ500 law firm, Wilbon, a Partner in the Memphis office, has enjoyed a 25-year legal career in litigation and maintains a diverse practice representing financial services companies throughout the Southeast on a multitude of commercial litigation matters.
As Chair, Wilbon collaborates with fellow executive committee members and Managing Partner Gif Thornton to drive the firm’s strategic plan. These efforts resulted in Adams and Reese gaining national recognition as leaders in emerging practice areas and growth industries. This expansion also involved increasing the attorney headcount to serve specific client needs, offering continuous advancement opportunities for Adams and Reese professionals, and nurturing the cultural values that set the firm apart, such as collaboration, teamwork, and entrepreneurial spirit.
“Clarence has established himself as a key leader in the firm. He brings excellence to everything he touches. Every room gets better when he walks in,” said Thornton, Adams and Reese Managing Partner since 2015. “Clarence has built a successful litigation practice representing clients all over the Southeast. He mentors our younger attorneys and dedicates himself to fulfilling our vision and executing our firm’s strategy.”
Wilbon ranks among “Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America”, the nation’s most elite courtroom litigators represented by more than 100 law firms. A Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, Wilbon is a member of LCA Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, Defense Research Institute, Trial Attorneys of America, and The Leo Bearman, Sr. American Inn of Court.
Wilbon represents financial services clients and companies on a multitude of commercial litigation matters. His practice areas span financial services, creditors’ rights/special assets/workouts, commercial litigation, products liability and torts, employment litigation, education and operational matters impacting HBCUs, and healthcare disputes. His litigation practice covers businesses’ concerns across multiple industries, including representation of health care and life sciences companies concerning risk management, products liability, contract disputes, employment, restrictive covenants, and a full range of business disputes.
As the former Diversity Committee Chair, Wilbon helped implement initiatives that include mentorship opportunities for Adams and Reese attorneys and also pipeline pathways for law students and legal professionals.
Several programs have included AR ARROW (Advancement, Recruitment and Retention of Women); DAAP (Diverse Attorney Advancement and Promotion); and Adams and Reese’s involvement in the NALP/Street Law Legal Diversity Pipeline Program; ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship; AdvanceLaw Diversity Mentorship Program; Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, among other partnerships.
These programs have placed Adams and Reese at the forefront of achieving actionable goals and be recognized by national publications. Adams and Reese is a two-time Mansfield Certification recipient; ALM/Law.com Diversity Initiative honoree; Outstanding Diversity Champion by the Houston Business Journal; and a recipient of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association Approved SILVER Seal.