W. Robinson Beard retired from the active practice of law for firm clients on December 31, 2009. He joined a predecessor of the Firm in 1966 and was elected to the partnership/membership in 1971. Prior to retirement, he practiced banking, transactional, general corporate law and, most recently, focused on creditors' rights and bankruptcy and charitable organizations law. Following retirement, Mr. Beard will continue as Chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky. Clients included: First National Bank of Louisville and National Processing Company; JP Morgan Chase Bank; Brown-Forman Corporation; Yum Brands, Inc.; Anaconda Aluminum; Arco Metals; Chrysler Credit Corporation; Wells Fargo Bank; the Regional Airport Authority of Louisville and Jefferson County; the liquidator of Kentucky Central Life Insurance Company; Fleet National Bank; Consumers Choice Coffee, Inc.; and, many other clients of the firm, small and large. Before Stites & Harbison Mr. Beard joined Stites, Peabody & Helm (later renamed Stites & Harbison) in 1966, after serving as law clerk to the Hon. Max Swinford, then Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. More than Stites & Harbison Mr. Beard has served as Chancellor for the Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky since 2005, and serves on several affiliated committees. He served as Chairman of the Kentucky Council for Economic Education and as Chairman of the Better Business Bureau (Louisville). He earned an officer's commission in the Kentucky Army National Guard and rounded out his military service as the State Judge Advocate for Kentucky. Besides Stites & Harbison Tennis, golf, hiking in the mountains of North Carolina, other travel both domestically and abroad, and liberal politics. Memberships American Bar Association Kentucky Bar Association Louisville Bar Association American Bankruptcy Institute Community Involvement Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky, Chancellor Industry Experience Banking / Financial Services Financing Wholesalers / Distributors |