Robert S. Banks, Sr., former VP and General Counsel for Xerox Corporation and founder of ACC, passed away this week in Norcross, Georgia after a year-long battle with cancer.  Mr. Banks was a legal pioneer instrumental in redefining the role of in-house counsel.

"This is incredibly sad news. I deeply admired Bob. He accomplished a great deal for ACC, was a pleasure to be around. He was a visionary and his foresight of the role of in-house lawyers remains true to this day. He will truly be missed,” said ACC President Frederick J. Krebs.  

Mr. Banks is survived by his wife Judith, eight children, twenty-one grandchildren, three great grand children, and brother Douglas.

As a result of Mr. Banks’ luncheon with other in-house counsel, the idea of ACC was formed. Founded in 1982 as the American Corporate Counsel Association (ACCA), ACCA had a membership of 2,400 in-house counsel. To reflect its increasing international membership, ACCA became ACC in 2003, and today has more than 24,000 members around the world.

ACC will honor the memory of Robert S. Banks, Sr. through the scholarships provided to “in-transition” ACC members and those who need  financial assistance to attend the ACC Annual Meeting. The "Robert S. Banks, Sr. ACC Scholarship" will be awarded in 2010.