My Friend, Bernie, A Great Lawyer

Bernard B. Levine (August 27, 1927 to February 13, 2018)

Today, on what would be his 91st birthday, I celebrate the memory of my dear friend Bernard (Bernie) Levine.  Bernie was many things: a devoted husband to his lifetime partner Joan, a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather, a faithful and deeply spiritual Jew, a patriot and veteran of the U.S. Army, an extreme lover and generous benefactor of the performing arts, and an always-dapper dresser with white hair flowing to his shoulders and typically sporting a slightly askance bowtie.  And he was a brilliant lawyer of the kind rarely seen in these days of gigantic multi-location law factories filled with marbled hallways of billing-specialty lawyers churning forth reams of briefs and contracts.

Instead of claiming to be a specialist Bernie held a deep well of legal expertise in the broadest array imaginable of legal disciplines.  He exuded a trust that invited his clients to share their most urgent needs and deepest confidences.  He spoke with authority when explaining the rule of law.  He was always quick to laugh at himself and others, and effortlessly diffused tension or controversy into a smile and a solution.  He had time for thinking and discussion.

For an extended period of time, when I was a much younger professional, Bernie invited me to walk along with him once a week on his “daily rounds” with an institutional client.  These were not formal conference room meetings—instead, Bernie went directly to where the life of his clients was located.  As he walked his trek from office to office, he would be confronted with an amazing array of questions on problems that had been stockpiled for him.  Without fail he had an insightful answer along with practical advice to solve problems.  Then, with a chuckle and a sparkle, we would proceed on our way to the next office, while on the way he would share his insights on what had or might happen.  Our route led ultimately to the CEO’s private office, where we would pull up our chairs to discuss not only the daily urgencies but also the long view of corporate objectives and strategies and concerns.  It seemed as though the mundane and the important found their confluence in Bernie’s sage thinking.

Bernie was a great lawyer.  He knew the law; he had the complete confidence of his clients; and he was definitive and practical in his advice.  He was a gentleman.

In honor of him, I aspire that throughout my workday stroll my clients may see just a bit of Bernie in me.