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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I could not have completed this history without the kind and immense help of Judy
Feigin, my interviewer. She is a most remarkable woman, who is as sharp as a tack and who
asked all the right questions, jogged and corrected my memory when necessary and then edited
into coherence all of my ramblings. She also laughed at all appropriate times. We are now great
friends, and I hope she understands the depth of my gratitude.
I agreed to this project largely because of my children. I wanted them to have a better
understanding of what I was doing during those days and weeks when I was missing in action. I
am hopeful that in retrospect they will feel, as I did, that I was engaged in meaningful and
worthy work.
I want to emphasize that at no time during my long career as a lawyer did I accomplish
much alone. At every step in my journey I was assisted by extraordinary lawyers, many of
whom became dear friends. Many young lawyers worked with me on cases and then moved on
in pursuit of their own careers to engage in public service or other fulfilling adventures outside
the practice of law. While they worked with me, I tried always to be their teacher and to impart
to them a feel for lawyering. Many hours were spent in discussions about how to prepare a case
for trial and the strategy and tactics needed to prevail in the courtroom. For me this was as
rewarding as any victory at trial.
It is a long list of those with whom I had a very special relationship, and by mentioning
their names I want them to know the enormous respect and affection I have for each of them.
Having now reached 84 years, I know I will fail to remember many who are deserving of my
recognition and for that I ask for your understanding.
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While an Assistant United States Attorney I learned my craft by watching Robert Bennett
among others. Roger Zuckerman taught me how to write an appellate brief and not to be afraid
while arguing it. Richard Hibey was a close friend and a very talented trial lawyer. All three
became lifelong friends, and it was a sad moment in my life when Richard and Bob passed away.
And without David Bress breaking with tradition and offering me a job as an AUSA after
coming home from Vietnam, Lord knows where I would be today.
And it was David Bress who convinced me that I should leave that office, having fulfilled
my AUSA obligation, to come to the firm of Ginsburg, Feldman & Bress in 1970 where working
for him I learned so much more about how to be a lawyer. The cancer that took him from the
Watergate trial, as sad as that was, resulted in the most undeserved and luckiest break a young
lawyer has ever received. Again, without that break, I know not where I would be. Thanks to
even younger Jake Dweck for helping me to survive to the end of what is still the most
significant criminal trial in the last 100 years. While at the Ginsburg firm I became close pals
with Bill Taylor and Phil Cohan, two more of my enduring friendships with extremely talented
lawyers. Bill was with me when we represented Harry Rodgers in the trial of Governor Mandel,
and in time he left Ginsburg to found his own firm with Roger Zuckerman and others. Bill,
Roger and the firm, they have all had a great run.
After David Bress passed away, Jim Sharp, who had started his own white collar
boutique following his service as an AUSA, convinced me to join him, and off I went for the
next eleven years. We had a lot of fun together, worked on significant cases, and watched a few
movies in the afternoon. In 1990 I felt I needed a larger platform and more person power as the
cases we were attracting were significantly larger in scope. So I opened the door to look around.
Ruff Fant, a Sidley Austin partner, found me on the street one day and literally dragged me into
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the DC office to meet the managing partner Bob McLean. I think within minutes I was on my
way to becoming a Sidley Partner. Both Bob and Ruff were instrumental in the success I have
enjoyed at Sidley. Both have now passed on and way too early in their lives. I miss them both.
For the next thirty years I practiced law at Sidley. Dorie Finnerman came with me when I moved
to Sidley. She was a wonderful colleague. The years at Sidley were great years filled with
interesting cases and many, many friendships, some of which were and remain extraordinarily
meaningful and close. Mark Hopson, my dear colleague, has been my trial sidekick from the
moment I walked in the door. Nothing was achieved without his contribution, and as he sat with
me during trials he inhaled the craft of standing on his own feet and became an amazingly
talented trial lawyer in his own right. There are so many Sidley lawyers who contributed to our
success and to whom I am indebted but Kristin Koehler, Colleen Lauerman, Jeffrey T. Green and
Brad Berenson deserve special mention. Finally a shout out to my assistant of many years Steve
O’Kieffe. With great skill she kept me and my case files organized and ensured that I was on
time and in the right place whether in a courtroom or a meeting overseas. All of that was
invaluable.