CORPORATE COUNSEL.

In-house attorneys have it easy, right? They don't have to track billable hours and they can craft a work schedule that's closer to 9 to 5--at least in theory. The truth is that in-house counselors have a tough job that requires a broad spectrum of legal expertise that encompasses employment, real estate, contracts, securities, government relations, compliance, cybersecurity and much, much more. So please join us as we pay tribute to our first Corporate Counsel Award honorees--exceptional attorneys who are invaluable assets within their companies.

GEORGE ADONDAKIS

President and Legal Counsel | Nicholas & Company

Working for what George Adondakis calls a "growing, family-owned company" for 15 years has allowed Adondakis to wear many hats--he's served in other roles, including Vice President of human resources, before his current position of president and legal counsel at Nicholas & Company.

In order to take proper care of the company's team members, Adondakis says he's committed to "creating a safety culture at Nicholas. We feel a strong commitment to our team members, customers and community, and about eight years ago we made a firm decision that we were going to be 'best in class' in safety," he says. That decision led to a decrease of workplace injury from eight incidents per 20,000 hours worked to the current standard of 1.43 injuries per 20,000 hours.

Adondakis also drives Nicholas & Company to invest in IT and cutting-edge technology in order to automate processes, leading to reduced costs and increasing growth initiatives. "Nicholas has always valued team member engagement and company culture," says Adondakis. "I feel my employment law background has helped Nicholas hire, train, coach and, when needed, terminate team members in the right way. I have been involved at the ground level in this and have helped shape the culture and attract great talent."

RANDALL BENSON

General Counsel | People's Utah Bancorp

Randall Benson became Bank of American Fork's first in-house counsel in 2006--just before the Great Recession hit. While the financial industry was coping with a grim economic situation, Congress enacted the Dodd Frank Act, which led to the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and many, many new banking regulations.

But instead of falling into a defensive position, the bank took aggressive steps to survive and grow in the new landscape. Benson helped the bank acquire two other community banks and the Utah branches of a third bank. Then the bank's parent company went public as People's Utah Bancorp and is now traded on the Nasdaq.

Benson says his biggest challenge has been to "preserve and growth community banking, with real small town service, in a time of constant change, with ever-increasing legal, regulatory and technological challenges."

Through Benson's legal guidance, Bank of American Fork has transformed from a privately held bank with 10 locations and $638 million in assets to a publicly traded company with five divisions, 25 banking locations and $2.1 billion in assets.

Benson says he is a teacher at heart, adding, "The best part of my position is providing legal training for bank executives, managers and staff, which has helped develop institutional knowledge and capacity for significant growth."

3. DAN BLACK

Chief Legal Officer, Executive Vice President & Secretary | Vivint Solar

For C. Dan Black...