Adams and Reese attorney and Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) received the “Legislator of the Year” award from the Tennessee Development District Association. The TDDA is an association of the state’s nine development districts, which are regional planning and economic development organizations.
Norris authored the Labor Education Alignment Program legislation in 2014, through which Northwest Tennessee was awarded an $850,000 grant.
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.
In 2014, Norris received the “Legislator of the Year” award from The Tennessee Association for Justice and he was also named “Legislator of the Year” by the Tennessee Parent Teacher Association (PTA), presented to an outstanding legislator who works to make a positive difference in the education, health, and welfare of Tennessee’s children and youth.