A Conversation With Wiley S. Adams, 82nd National Bar Association President
A young Wiley S. Adams never dreamed of being a lawyer, although he recognized himself in characters like Perry Mason, who solved mysteries using logic and analytical skills. Wiley says, “In my mind, lawyers have a special duty to be thoughtful and measured, and to uphold the highest standards of truth and integrity. I identified with that.” After his first year at the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1984, he clerked for Seventh Circuit Judge Luther Swygert. That experience reaffirmed his conviction to be a corporate transaction lawyer rather than a litigator. Wiley then began surveying firms, and Sidley was, as he puts it, “the place for me.” Guided by his recruiter Andy Shaw, then a partner at Sidley, Wiley joined Sidley first as a summer associate and then as an associate in 1986.
Fresh out of law school, he recalls being immediately assigned to a record-breaking transaction. “I was given materials to look through and asked to meet in an hour in the big conference room that was nick named ‘Star Wars’ for what turned out to be a mega deal. The deal was a US$1.4 billion leveraged recapitalization which back then was one of the largest recaps done to date. I eventually drafted what I believe was a first of its kind funding agreement to position funds for closing from an exceptionally large syndicate of banks at a single source prior to closing. The partner in charge, Bruce Bernstein, tasked me to draft something I called a Funding Account Agreement and at closing named me the funding account expert. It was a great responsibility very early in my career and everyone at the closing in New York gravitated to me to talk about this novel agreement.” Wiley found it such a meaningful experience that he still has the lucite closing gift he received as a memento from his first deal. “I was surprised with the trust and responsibility that Sidley provided me so early in my career, and I greatly appreciated it.”
On the advice of another mentor, then-Sidley associate Skip Stern, Wiley joined the firm’s Banking group. The work was fast and furious, and when the deal side was less busy, he worked for the Bankruptcy group as well.
One particularly memorable highlight for Wiley from his time at Sidley was working with former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. He recalls, “Back then, it was Michelle Robinson, and she was one of the associates I tried to help learn the big law firm ropes and dynamics. Barack was there for the summer. Our kids eventually attended the same school and my wife and I were friends with them. There were not a ton of minority — Black, in particular — lawyers in big law at the time, and I felt duty bound to assist those few who were at the firm to be successful in their careers. It was an honor to meet them. I never could have fathomed where their careers would take them.”
As time passed, Wiley settled into the idea of being at Sidley for life. “I am deeply rooted in Chicago. Sidley is a firm deeply rooted in Chicago. We just paired up well.” But in 1991, an opportunity to join Prudential Financial arose, and he decided to try something new. For the next 30 years, he took on in-house counsel roles of increasing responsibility, eventually becoming Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of PGIM (Prudential Global Investment Management) one of the 10 largest asset management businesses in the world. Wiley mentioned he was proud of being elected to the Prudential Capital Group Hall of Fame, an honor that few employees at Prudential can claim. He retired from Prudential in 2020 to spend more time with his family, as his wife Lisa was also retiring at that time.
When Wiley departed, Sidley leadership made sure to let him know he was always welcome to come back if he felt so inclined, but he says, “One of the things I have always tried to do is never outstay my welcome. Sidley is where I honed my skills, learned a lot, and experienced so much. Sidley is still family to me.” This sentiment includes partners such as Bruce Schimberg, Bruce Bernstein, Deverille Huston, Jim Looman, Jim Clark, Andy Shaw, Skip Stern, Tom Albrecht, Gerry Alexis, and Larry Nyhan, among others, and all the associates with whom he worked.
Not one to stay still for long, in 2023, Wiley ran against three other candidates to become President-Elect of the National Bar Association (NBA) and prevailed in a runoff election. And, because there was no executive director during his bar year, he assumed responsibility for both roles, which he says was challenging.
The NBA was founded in 1925 in Des Moines, Iowa, and established, as Wiley points out, because at the time the American Bar Association (ABA) did not allow Black lawyers to become members. “The NBA is well-positioned and ready for the next 100 years, and I was very happy to be the Centennial President at the helm of the organization during the centennial celebration and to hold the 100th Annual Convention in Chicago.”
As part of the year long centennial anniversary celebration, the NBA’s March 2025 MidYear Conference was held in the organization’s founding city of Des Moines, IA where several great things happened. A monument was placed at the previously unmarked gravesite of Gertrude Rush — one of the NBA’s founders and a civil rights activist and trailblazer for women lawyers.
Wiley says he is grateful to Sidley’s Boston-based partner Doreen Rachal, who serves as chair of the NBA’s Women’s Lawyer Division, and one of Sidley’s Chicago-based partners, Byron Taylor, who assisted me with gaining support for the NBA’s Annual Convention in Chicago this past summer. “We had a purpose with a party with many amazing participants, celebrities, dignitaries, and officials including former President Joe Biden, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Rev Dr. Jesse L. Jackson, and Bears CEO and President Kevin F Warren, and journalist Joy-Ann Reid.”
In his spare time, Wiley serves on the Cook County Bar Association Foundation Board, as well as the Board of the only Black-owned bank in the state of Illinois, GN Bank. He is also the Vice President of the alumni association of his alma mater, South Shore High School. He also served as vice-chair on the board of his undergraduate school, Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.
While acknowledging that he likes to keep busy, Wiley says he is paring back substantially. “I look forward to smelling the roses and using some of the capital I’ve accumulated over the years to enjoy the fruits of life.” Up next on his calendar: “Maui with my family, which is a favorite destination of mine and where we always have a good time.”
Published September 2025
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