Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) announced the reappointment of Adams and Reese Special Counsel and Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, to The Southern States Energy Board.
The Southern States Energy Board (SSEB) is a non-profit interstate compact organization created in 1960. The Board’s mission is to enhance economic development and the quality of life in the South through innovations in energy and environmental policies, programs and technologies. Sixteen southern states and two territories comprise the membership of SSEB. Each jurisdiction is represented by the governor and a legislator from the House and Senate.
“Encouraging economic development through the study of sound energy and environmental policy is key to the continued advancement of Tennessee’s economy,” said Lt. Governor Ramsey. “Senator Norris has shown great leadership on issues of energy, environment and economic development and has served Tennessee well on the Southern States Energy Board. I’m proud to reappoint him.”
Norris has served in the Tennessee Senate since 2000 and as Senate Majority Leader since 2007.
At Adams and Reese, Norris has practiced law since 1980 and is Special Counsel with the firm in the Memphis and Nashville offices. First elected to the Senate in 2000 and as Majority Leader in 2007, Senator Norris represents the West Tennessee Counties of Shelby, Tipton, Lauderdale, and Dyer. Norris is currently a member of the following Senate Committees: Finance, Ways and Means; State and Local Government; Ethics; Veterans’ Affairs; Pensions and Insurance; and Workers’ Compensation Oversight. He is Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee.
Norris has a diverse civil litigation and business practice. His commercial litigation caseload regularly includes products liability, petroleum marketing and franchise litigation, defense of professional liability claims, and condemnation/eminent domain cases He advises clients in crisis management and preventative measures to minimize risk and avoid the expense of litigation. He also appears before administrative, regulatory and municipal boards on behalf of a variety of clients in land use, permitting and zoning matters related to economic development.
Norris was named to serve as one of 12 members on the Communications, Policy and Economic Development Council of the U.S. Department of Energy’s program tasked with modeling and simulation of nuclear reactors. Known as “CASL” (Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors), the program includes Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority, and leading research universities in Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, Florida and elsewhere.
Adams and Reese is a multidisciplinary law firm with offices strategically located throughout the southern United States and Washington, DC. American Lawyer includes Adams and Reese on its distinguished list of the nation's top law firms - "The Am Law 200". The National Law Journal also includes the firm on the "NLJ 250" list of the nation's largest law firms.