Beta Kappa Archon Marcus Maples was named among the “Best of the Bar” in recognition as one of the best lawyers locally in Birmingham, Alabama on September 4, 2020. Archon Maples is a shareholder at the firm Baker Donelson, where he focuses on business litigation. More recently during the COVID-19 pandemic his practice has specifically focused on force majeure (unforeseeable circumstances) clauses, including helping clients navigate a business landscape requiring delineation of essential projects with corresponding mitigation procedures. Alternately, Archon Maples assists clients in responding to force majeure notices potentially jeopardizing planned projects.
In his award announcement, Archon Maples was asked about his most memorable case. He acknowledged many high-risk high-reward cases, but recounted as his most memorable experiences, his representation of African American families in their efforts claim heir properties. In particular, he shared a story of his work with a North Alabama family with multigenerational ownership of a 200-arce farm. Archon Maples assisted the family in sorting out divergent family wishes and reaching an agreeable solution, allowing one previously evicted family member to remain on a portion of the land and allowing those who preferred cash to sell another portion of the property. “Those deals don’t make the news but it is important for me to see African-American families transition wealth in a way that preserves it for future generations”, reflected Archon Maples.
In July 2020, Archon Maples also received the President’s Award from the Alabama State Bar in recognition of his role co-chair of the Alabama Bar’s Diversity & Inclusion in the Profession Committee. In his role as co-chair, he was focused on furthering the Alabama Bar’s commitment to advancing the principles of racial, ethnic, gender, age and geographic diversity in the profession. Archon Maples is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and lives in Birmingham with his Archousa Kwoya and their three daughters.