Marcus M. Maples, a shareholder in the Birmingham office of Baker Donelson, was recently elected to a one-year term as president-elect of the Alabama Lawyers Association (ALA). Mr. Maples' tenure as president will begin in June 2018.
The ALA, formerly known as the Alabama Black Lawyers Association, was organized in 1971 to encourage the study of law, provide support services and networking opportunities for members to enhance their effectiveness as legal counsel, and to protect the civil and political rights of all citizens. Mr. Maples has been an active member of ALA for many years serving on the Execution Board as parliamentarian, chair of the CLE Committee and other various positions throughout the organization. He has also implemented numerous new initiatives including the Financial Literacy Series, a program designed to provide the African-American community with the essential tools to grow wealth and end poverty. Mr. Maples has also taken an active role with bridging the gap between ALA members and African-American law students by visiting each law school in the state to share his vision of "Seven Habits for a Successful Legal Career."
Mr. Maples is a member of Baker Donelson's Business Litigation Group, counseling business clients from a broad range of industries in all matters of business disputes and defending directors and officers in litigation involving fiduciary duty claims, shareholder disputes and allegations of minority oppression. He also litigates disputes over trust and estate matters including disputes involving fiduciaries, will contests and trust litigation. A graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law, Mr. Maples is a frequent speaker on leadership in the legal profession. He is an active member of the DRI and has been recognized as a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers since 2013. Mr. Maples is a member of the Magic City, Birmingham, and American Bar Associations and serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of North Alabama and for the Farrah Law Society.