NKY lawyer named president-elect of largest volunteer member organization in the world

William T. "Bill" Robinson III was recently named president-elect and will take over the reins of the 400,000-member American Bar Association (ABA) in August 2011 at its annual meeting in Toronto.

Robinson has long been passionate about civic engagement and community involvement. He is a founding member of the Tri-ED board, a member of the KEDFA board and was the 50th president of the Kentucky Bar Association. He has received many awards and honors, including the Bridges for a Just Community (formerly NCCJ) "Distinguished Service Citation."

Robinson acknowledges that Northern Kentucky companies are fighting against very challenging business issues. But, he says, "The future of Northern Kentucky is very bright in a tough economy."

He further points out that the overall climate in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati is healthy and competitive, and adds, "I am optimistic for future relocations and expansions of already successful companies that are operating in Northern Kentucky."

In addition to serving in leadership capacities in many professional associations, Robinson has served on the boards of numerous civic and philanthropic organizations in both Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area, such as the Boy Scouts of America and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

"Being involved with the Cincinnati Symphony and other such organizations has been a wonderful opportunity to serve my community. I consider it a privileged and continuing enhancement of my life," Robinson says. "My wife, Joan, and I and our family have been very blessed. I can never express enough my lasting appreciation for the blessings and success that we have had in this community."

Robinson and his wife have lived in Erlanger since 1978. He is the Member-in-Charge of the Florence office, where his specialties are civil litigation and appellate law.

It's especially fitting that a representative from Frost Brown Todd will now be leading an international organization, just as the firm has been named a finalist in the Business Courier's "International Business Awards," honoring regional companies that excel in the international marketplace. Robinson is passionate about bringing that same international focus to the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area.

One asset in conducting business in a global market has been the proximity and hub status of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. While some might see recent terminal changes there as a devastating loss, others are looking at new ways to capitalize on the opportunities now available. For example, the airport is currently being used as a quarantine site for the 500-plus horses arriving from all over the world to take part in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington. Robinson has some additional innovative ideas about leveraging the closed runways.

"I, like so many others, have read about the increasing need for accessible taxi jet services that can carry smaller numbers of business passengers shorter distances to conduct their business transactions," Robinson says. "Our airport, with its low debt service, multiple runways and centralized geographic location could fill this need for taxi jet service on a centralized basis. It would not only enhance the operations of the airport of course, but it would also add to the character of the Northern Kentucky business environment."

In accepting the position of ABA president-elect in August, Robinson acknowledged the strong leadership in whose steps he was following. He told members of the ABA that he sees the current challenging situation as an opportunity to grow the ABA membership and programs.

"Continuity in leadership will maximize the use of our talent and our resources not only to the betterment of our members, but to the betterment of our agreed-upon goals," he told the gathered ABA members. He could almost have been speaking to the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati Community.

"The success of lawyers, especially in the business market place, is tied to the success of their clients," Robinson says. "The trust and confidence shared by the business community and the lawyer community has served Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati in the past. I'm very confident and optimistic that such will be the case in the future. The chambers of commerce on both sides of the river have a good working relationship and everyone benefits as a result."