Kentucky lawyer Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III, a former ABA treasurer and past president of the Kentucky Bar Association, began a one-year term as ABA president last month, vowing to continue the association’s role in advocating for adequate state court funding and working toward membership development and greater diversity in the legal profession.
In remarks to the House of Delegates Aug. 8, Robinson acknowledged the work of the Task Force on the Preservation of Justice, appointed by outgoing President Stephen N. Zack to address the severe underfunding of the justice system. In addition to this task force, Robinson indicated that he will continue the work of the Commission on Hispanic Rights and Responsibilities, the Commission on Civic Education in the Nation’s Schools, and the Commission on Disaster Preparedness.
During his speech, Robinson also emphasized that it is imperative that the ABA continue to work on diversifying the legal profession. “Diversity enhances all of us individually and as an association,” he said.
Robinson is the member-in-charge of the Northern Kentucky offices of Frost Brown Todd LLC, a regional law firm of more than 400 lawyers with offices in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Indiana. An ABA member since 1972, he has served in a variety of leadership roles.
A longtime member of the House of Delegates, he served three years as ABA treasurer and seven years on the Board of Governors. His numerous positions within the association have included chair of the Standing Committee on Governmental Affairs, the Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, and the Standing Committee on Substance Abuse.
The primary focus of Robinson’s law practice has been civil litigation, and he has substantial experience in commercial litigation, class actions, product liability defense, environmental litigation, and medical malpractice defense. He has received numerous awards for his work in the law and in his community.
Robinson is a graduate of Thomas More College and the College of Law at the University of Kentucky, where he is in the Alumni Hall of Fame.