Adrian D. Thompson

Partner-in-Charge / Chief Diversity Officer Cleveland

Summary

Adrian provides counsel for private sector clients on issues including equal employment opportunity litigation, wage-hour problems, employment of the disabled, federal housing, and other labor matters. Co-partner-in-charge of the Cleveland office, Adrian is also a member of the firm’s executive and participation committees and serves as Taft’s chief diversity officer. He helps to drive the firm’s commitment and strategy regarding diversity and inclusion across our offices and in the communities that we serve.

Adrian represents school districts in contract negotiations, grievance arbitration, litigation, education of the disabled, and employment discrimination matters. He served as chief legal counsel for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District for eight years.

Adrian served as 2022-2023 president of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. He is also president emeritus of the board of directors of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. He helped to oversee the activities of Legal Aid’s 55 staff attorneys, 90 staff members and 1,400 volunteer lawyers across four offices that serve low income clients in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties.

Adrian formerly served on the Commission on the Rules of Superintendence for Ohio Courts, having been appointed by the Supreme Court of Ohio. In this role, he was one of 19 members who represented various judges, associations, attorneys, magistrates, clerks of court and court administrators. Adrian is also a member of the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Task Force on Commercial Dockets and serves on the Advisory Group for the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Ohio.

Adrian was recognized as a 2023 “Living Legacy” award winner by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, an award given to lawyers whose extraordinary leadership, innovation, and professional excellence have transformed the legal, business, and/or civic arena in Greater Cleveland.

He was also honored as a 2022 Smart 50 Award winner by Smart Business magazine and named as one of the “500 Most Influential Leaders in Cleveland” by Cleveland Magazine in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, he was named to the Lawyers of Color “Law Firm Leaders” list, which recognizes minority law firm leaders who serve as managing partners, executive committee members, or practice group chairs. In 2020, he was named to the Lawyers of Color “Power List,” which recognizes the most influential minority attorneys and allies in the United States.

Awards

  • “Living Legacy” Award Honoree, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (2023)

  • Honoree, Notables in Law, Crain’s Cleveland Business (2022)

  • Named as One of the “500 Most Influential Leaders in Cleveland” by Cleveland Magazine (2021 – 2022)

  • Top 100 Honoree, The National Black Lawyers

  • Honoree, Ohio Super Lawyers, Employment & Labor (2015 – 2016, 2021 – present)

  • Honoree, Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers, Education Law, Cleveland (2020)

  • Honoree, Lawyers of Color “Law Firm Leaders List” (2022)

  • Honoree, Notable Executives in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Crain’s Cleveland Business (2022)

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers in America® (2012 – present)

  • Judge Ronald B. Adrine Trailblazer Honoree, Norman S. Minor Bar Association (2022)

  • “Best in Class for Diversity in the Legal Profession,” Greater Cleveland Partnership (2018 – 2020)

  • Honoree, Smart 50 Awards, Smart Business magazine (2022)

  • Honoree, Lawyers of Color “Power List” (2020)

  • Honoree, Ohio Board of Professional Conduct

  • Taft Legacy Award Honoree (2017)

All Service Areas

Education

  • The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (1986)
  • Bowling Green State University (1983)

Admissions

  • Federal - 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Federal - Northern District of Ohio
  • State - Ohio

Speeches and Publications

Speeches

Speaker, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association MyBarStory Podcast, Feb. 18, 2024.

Moderator, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Webinar, “Compromising Public Classrooms & The Great Resignation – Are Ohio Schools Next?” Sept. 6, 2022.

Co-presenter, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s 2022 New Lawyer Bootcamp, Feb. 28, 2022.

Panelist, Greater Cleveland Partnership Equity and Inclusion program, “DEI Assessments and Measurements that Promote Change,” Feb. 9, 2021.

Panelist, “Establishing an Inclusive and Inviting Environment: A Panel Discussion on Race and Racism in the Workplace and the American Legal System,” Taft Webinar, Aug. 20, 2020.

Panelist, Best Lawyers COVID-19 & Education Panel (here), April 29, 2020.

Publications

Focusing Our Efforts On Tomorrow, Today,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (June 2023)

The Fight to Rid the World of “Forever Chemicals” is Starting to Pay Off: A Conversation With Rob Bilott,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (May 2023)

Gender Equality in the Profession: There’s Still Work to Be Done,” Bar Association President Column, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (April 2023).

It’s Time For a Change,” Bar Association President Column, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (March 2023).

Access to Justice, Work/Life Balance, and More: Tomorrow’s Bar Leaders Solving Today’s Problems,” Bar Association President Column, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (February 2023).

Voters Across State Endorse New Bail Rules: Is It Time for Comprehensive Bail Reform?” Bar Association President Column, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (January 2023).

The Ohio Mock Trial Competition is Back in Person, and Everybody Wins!” Bar Association President Column, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (December 2022).

The CMBA Helps Northeast Ohio Vote,” Bar Association President Column, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (November 2022).

Pro Bono at Your CMBA,” Bar Association President Column, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (October 2022).

Honoring Our Past Leaders,” Bar Association President Column, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (September 2022).

Focusing Our Efforts Together Towards Tomorrow,” Bar Association President Column, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (July/August 2022).

Quoted, Crain’s Cleveland Business article, “Step one: Measuring diversity is the start to an inclusive workplace,” March 13, 2021.

Quoted, Cincinnati Business Courier article, “Taft sets new high bar for boosting representation of women,” Jan. 22, 2021.

Author, “Office of Special Education Programs Explains Implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” Taft Law Bulletin, July 7, 2020.

Co-author, “Department of Agriculture Issued Nationwide Waivers for Summer Nutrition Program,” Taft Law Bulletin, June 30, 2020.

Co-author, “Requirements and Considerations for Educational Institutions Serving Children with Special Needs Under IDEA, Rehabilitation Act and ADA,” Taft Law Bulletin, May 8, 2020.

Co-author, “House Bill 197 Provisions Regarding School Leadership Evaluations, Education Metrics and Distance Learning,” Taft Law Bulletin, April 28, 2020.

Co-author, “Department of Education’s DeVos Announces $3 Billion Relief Grant for Governors,” Taft Law Bulletin, March 28, 2020.

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association

    Member

  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

    Member, Board of Directors
    President, 2022-2023
    President-Elect, 2021-2022
    Vice President, 2020-2021
    Co-Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Strategies Committee

  • Greater Cleveland Partnership

    Member, Downtown, Waterfronts & Amenities Committee
    Member, Advancing Middle Market Progress (AMMP) Steering Committee
    Member, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Board

  • Ohio State Bar Association

    Member

  • Supreme Court of Ohio

    Member, Commission on the Rules of Superintendence for Ohio Courts

  • The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

    President Emeritus, Board of Directors

  • Norman S. Minor Bar Association

    Member

  • The National Black Lawyers Top 100

    Member

  • Ohio Board of Professional Conduct

    Member

  • U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Ohio

    Member, Advisory Group

Community Involvement

  • Greater Cleveland Sports Commission

    Member, Board of Directors

  • Positive Education Program

    Member, Board of Directors

  • Leadership Ohio

    Class of 2019