Dentons is proud to announce that the Daily Report recognized two Atlanta-based partners in this year’s Southeastern Legal Awards. Thurbert Baker is a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Samuel Olens is honored as a Distinguished Leader.

Baker co-chairs Dentons’ US State Attorneys General practice, drawing on his years of experience serving as Georgia’s first African American attorney general from 1997 to 2010. During his tenure, he also served as the President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG); as a convenor of the NAAG Civil Rights Committee; as chairman of NAAG’s Conference on Violence Against Women; and as an adviser to the Harrell Center for the study of domestic violence at the University of South Florida. Additionally, Baker has served as global vice chair of Dentons and as a member of its US Board. He focuses his practice on corporate compliance and investigations, complex state legal and legislative matters, public policy and regulatory affairs, multi-state litigation, public sector procurements and regulatory matters.

Olens is a partner in Dentons’ US Public Policy practice and a member of the State Attorneys General practice. He succeeded Baker as attorney general of Georgia in 2010, and served in the role until 2016. Notably, Olens led efforts to end human trafficking and opioid addiction; addressed the need for adequate water supply to the state; and helped pass hate-crimes legislation. At Dentons, Olens’ practice focuses on state attorneys general and local government affairs matters. Olens remains dedicated to public service. He is a member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors, the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors and the Carter Center Board of Councilors.