It is with mixed feelings that we announce the retirement of our most valued Executive Director Cathy Reilly. In her twenty-five years with the Firm, Cathy has been instrumental in guiding MCB through many changes, and it is fair to say that her dedication and achievements have been unparalleled.
Prior to MCB, Cathy served as the Vice President of Administration for the Legal Department of Chase Manhattan Bank. There, she successfully orchestrated an effort to bring that Legal Department into the 21st century, fashioning it into one of the few in-house legal departments anywhere in the nation to be run like a stand-alone law firm within a corporation. Upon joining MCB, she was immediately tasked with modernizing the Firm’s infrastructure, starting with the outdated accounting system which existed at the time, and subsequently moving on to build the network you all rely on today.
At the time of Cathy’s arrival in 1997, MCB had only its NYC office, a small office in a shared space in White Plains, and a conference room with one office in East Meadow. Fewer than 60 attorneys were on board. In the years that followed, Cathy directly contributed to the Firm’s expansion, overseeing the renovations of existing offices as well as the creation of new offices in Rochester, NY, Roseland, NJ and Stamford, CT. She also helped to build and develop a strong internal staff, many of whom remain major contributors to the Firm’s success to this day.
Concurrent with her tenure at MCB, Cathy also played a major role in the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), holding offices that ranged from Annual Conference Co-Chair to Board member to National President. She was also responsible for spearheading the organization’s expansion into Europe. Additionally, after losing a close ILTA colleague who served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps to hostilities in Iraq in 2004, Cathy worked selflessly to develop an annual ILTA Leadership seminar featuring Generals from the US Army JAG Corps. That seminar still continues today.
Our senior administrators, Curt, Courtney, Jennifer and Steve, look forward to maintaining the high standards of excellence that Cathy has set for the Firm.
Please join us in wishing Cathy all the best in the years to come!
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MARTIN CLEARWATER & BELL LLP
Rosaleen McCrory, Thomas Mobilia, Michael Sonkin