Albert T. Adams

Partner

Cleveland
T +1.216.861.7499
F +1.216.696.0740

Overview

Al Adams practices in the business and corporate areas, with special emphasis on the structuring and financial aspects of business transactions. He has participated as lead counsel in numerous significant transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, project financings and public offerings.

Al previously served as Chairman of the Cleveland office and a member of the Policy Committee, which is the governing body of BakerHostetler. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America© and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Select Experience

  • As lead lawyer, has represented 12 issuers, including five real estate investment trusts, in connection with their initial public offerings (IPOs). The real estate investment trust IPOs included the roll-up of numerous limited partnerships to form the public companies.
  • Has served as general outside counsel to two public funds and eight public companies.
  • Has served as a director of seven public companies, and has chaired three nominating and governance committees, three compensation committees and one audit committee. Has been involved in all aspects of corporate governance, including matters relating to shareholder advocacy and litigation involving directors.
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Experience

  • As lead lawyer, has represented 12 issuers, including five real estate investment trusts, in connection with their initial public offerings (IPOs). The real estate investment trust IPOs included the roll-up of numerous limited partnerships to form the public companies.
  • Has served as general outside counsel to two public funds and eight public companies.
  • Has served as a director of seven public companies, and has chaired three nominating and governance committees, three compensation committees and one audit committee. Has been involved in all aspects of corporate governance, including matters relating to shareholder advocacy and litigation involving directors.
  • Has acted as the engagement partner in connection with public offerings of more than $25 billion of various securities, including common stock, various debt obligations and perpetual preferred stock.
  • Has served as lead regional counsel to one of the nation's largest banks. Prepared and negotiated various agented and single-bank secured and unsecured credit facilities aggregating in excess of $150 billion, including international financings, derivatives, credit enhancements and collateral agreements.
  • Has participated as lead company counsel in "greenfield" project financings in the steel industry aggregating more than $4 billion, including the 2009 international project financing transaction of the year. Has negotiated senior and subordinated credit arrangements, supply contracts, power contracts and various forms of equity arrangements.
  • Has represented private equity providers and recipients in numerous transactions.
  • Has represented buyers and sellers in numerous mergers and acquisitions, including a $7 billion public company to public company merger.
  • Has acted as bond counsel in connection with the first compound interest bond issued to finance low-income housing; has acted as underwriter's counsel in the first "senior/subordinated" securitization rated by Standard & Poor's; and has acted as issuer's counsel in the first letter of credit-enhanced grantor trust securities offering.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • The Legal 500 United States (2019)
    • Recommended in Real Estate
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (1999 to Present)
    • Ohio: Corporate Law
  • Ohio "Super Lawyer" (2004 to 2017)
  • Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

Admissions

  • U.S. Tax Court, 1977
  • Ohio, 1977

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School, 1977
  • M.B.A., Harvard Business School, 1977
  • B.A., Harvard College, 1973