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New Akron Bar president discusses goals
Roderick Linton Belfance principal and managing partner William Chris took the reins as Akron Bar Association President on July 1. Chris was sworn in by Summit County Common Pleas Judge Tammy O'Brien on June 21 during the bar association's annual meeting at the Firestone Country Club. The swearing in is pictured here. (Photo courtesy of the Akron Bar Association).
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: July 20, 2018
As a longtime Akron Bar Association member, Roderick Linton Belfance principal and managing partner William Chris has served in many different capacities as he sought to improve services and retain and attract members.
Now he’s taken the reins as president, pledging to continue to carry out the initiatives of his immediate predecessors, while exploring new ways to keep the bar association relevant to future generations of lawyers.
“My overall goal is to continue to right the ship as past presidents have been doing,” said Chris, who became president on July 1 after being sworn in on June 21 during the bar association’s annual meeting at the Firestone Country Club.
“The bar association brings like-minded people together who have similar concerns and needs,” he said. “I view it as my job to ensure that the services we offer help make the lives of members easier.”
Immediate past president David Lewis said he’s confident Chris will “do an excellent job as president.
“Bill and I first started working together on the finance committee,” said Lewis, a director and shareholder in charge of the Akron office at Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty Co. “I was treasurer of the bar association at the time.
“He is a very experienced lawyer and he has served in official capacities at both the Akron Bar Association and the Akron Bar Foundation.
“He understands the issues that affect members who practice in Summit County very well.”
Born in Akron and raised in North Canton, Chris graduated from Hoover High School.
Chris received his bachelor’s degree in communication and rhetoric from The University of Akron and his juris doctor from The University of Toledo College of Law.
He began his career as an associate at Nukes & Perantinides Co., where he primarily focused on insurance defense.
Prior to joining Roderick Linton Belfance as a partner in 2001, he was a partner at Engle & Chris.
“While at the firm, I hired my current legal assistant Heather Koerner, who has been a great asset to my practice as well as a friend.”
At Roderick Linton Belfance, Chris focuses on matters ranging from litigation to insurance defense. He is also the interim law director for the city of Green.
Lawrence Bach, a principal at Roderick Linton Belfance was responsible for recruiting Chris.
“When Bill arrived at the firm, it was a great day for the firm,” said Bach. “He brought with him Jack Lynett, Denny Bradshaw and Jason Hickman as an added bonus,” said Bach. “He is a consummate professional, knowledgeable and he has great people skills.
“He is involved with both the Ohio State and Akron Bar associations,” said Bach. “His willingness to get involved at the Akron Bar Association is impressive.
“He is a role model for other lawyers.”
Bach said Chris was excited to become bar president and plans to bring back some of the camaraderie that previously existed at the bar association.
“I can remember when I first started practicing in 1984 that one of the first things I did was join the Akron Bar Association,” said Bach.
“When the bar held its annual golf outing, everyone participated,” Bach said. “As years have gone on there has been a bit of a fracture and I know Bill wants to bring back the excitement and pride that attorneys once took in being members of the bar.”
Since joining the Akron Bar Association in 1985, Chris has served as trustee, chaired several committees and was bar counsel from April 2009 to September 2012.
An Akron Bar Foundation fellow, he is completing his term as secretary of the foundation’s board of governors.
As president, Chris said he would continue to pay close attention to Senate Bill 263, which seeks to “modernize” the notary public system in Ohio, including allowing for electronic notarization.
In its current form, the bill would also standardize the system for commissioning notaries public in the state, consolidating the process under the sole authority of the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office. In addition, new applicants would be required to submit to background checks, participate in an approved training course and pass an assessment before they could get their seals.
Chris said over the next year he will continue to drive home the message that becoming an Akron Bar Association member is more than worth the investment.
“The bar provides six free CLEs a year to members,” said Chris. “If attorneys are not members of the bar, they have to pay for their own CLEs, which is nearly more than they pay for membership.”
Last year the Akron Bar Foundation received a gift of almost $700,000 from the estate of the late attorney Bradford “Buck” Gearinger to be used to promote professionalism and programming within the bar association.
“The bar association and bar foundation worked together to identify how professionalism and member support could best be served by Buck’s generous donation,” said Lewis.
In an effort to improve communication with its members, Lewis said the bar association recently purchased and installed a new member database that will improve outreach and engagement.
“The database will help us to fulfill the strategic plan initiated by former Akron Bar Association President Larry Scanlon and continued by Meg Matejkovic and myself, which involves investing in technology to better serve our members,” said Lewis.
“The database will enable members to use technology to enhance their practices,” Chris said.
Chris said he would like to have a bar member establish a scholarship through the bar foundation that would benefit the children of members who choose to attend The University of Akron or Kent State University.
“The more we can offer to our members, the more reasons they have to join,” said Chris.
Akron Bar Association President-elect Karen Adinolfi said she’s looking forward to working with Chris to find innovative ways to serve members.
“Bill and I have worked together on the boards of the Akron Bar Foundation and the Akron Bar Association,” said Adinolfi, a shareholder at Roetzel & Andress. “Bill is a great champion of the bar association and its members.
“There are many challenges facing this bar association as well as other bar associations as the demographics of the legal community continue to change,” said Adinolfi. “It’s the bar association’s role to demonstrate the value of membership, while navigating changes in technology and the legal landscape, as well as making legal services available to all.
“It’s a significant role.”
“My hope is that when I pass the torch to Karen in July 2019, the bar association is in better shape financially and our members are receiving additional services,” said Chris.