(Memphis, Tennessee/February 28, 2013) Ben C. Adams, chairman and chief executive officer of Baker Donelson, has been named CEO of the Year in the "200-1,000 Employees" category by Memphis Business Quarterly (MBQ), a bi-monthly business magazine.
Mr. Adams, who was one of three finalists in his category, was named the winner at the second annual CEO of the Year awards ceremony held on February 20, 2013, at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. The awards recognize the extraordinary achievements of executives in Memphis, with the winners chosen by an impartial group of judges selecting finalists from public nominations.
The MBQ article on Mr. Adams, who has served as chairman and CEO of Baker Donelson since 2003, cites his leadership of the Firm during years of growth amidst a recession as a major accomplishment. In that time, Mr. Adams led the Firm's growth from 270 attorneys and public policy advisors to more than 640 today, while expanding Baker Donelson's presence in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Houston and Orlando.
Under the leadership of Mr. Adams, Baker Donelson has received numerous recognitions as an exceptional workplace, including four consecutive rankings (2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013) among FORTUNE's prestigious "100 Best Companies to Work For" and a fourth place overall ranking in the 2013 edition of Vault, Inc.'s "Best Law Firms to Work For." The Firm regularly earns similar recognitions across its geographic footprint, being included in lists of the top companies to work for in Birmingham, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; and Houston, Texas.
In 2012, Mr. Adams was named "Most Innovative Managing Partner" by Law360 for his "innovative approaches to law firm management during challenging economic times." He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2006 and was named the 2013 Memphis "Lawyer of the Year" in Business Organizations and the 2011 Memphis "Lawyer of the Year" in Corporate Law by Best Lawyers. Mr. Adams has also been listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2006. He serves as vice-chair of Memphis Tomorrow and chair of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission.