Lawyers quit NYC firms for better quality of life

By: Rosamaria Mancini
Long Island Business News
October 3, 2003

It's not necessarily a reverse of the tide, but a good number of attorneys from prominent New York City law firms have headed east for what they say is a better life at firms on Long Island.

The lure: better working hours, shorter commutes and, for some, career opportunities that they wouldn't get from huge New York practices.

One example is Ira Halperin, a former partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, one of New York City's most prominent law firms. Halperin left the firm earlier this year to join Mineola-based Meltzer Lippe & Goldstein as a partner in the firm's corporate practice group. He said he was attracted to Meltzer Lippe's entrepreneurial atmosphere and sought a return to his native Long Island.

Martin P. Unger said he left Blank Rome to accept an offer to become a partner in the litigation practice group at East Meadow-based Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman firm.

"It gave me a life, it took away a 15-hour commute each week," Unger said, adding "I've found that I'm able to do alot of the work I did in the city out here - there are a lot of the same issues."

Joel Lewittes, former partner at New York City-based Jenkins & Gilchrist Parker Chapin, joined Garden City-based Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman in November 2002.

Lewittes, 68, left the firm when he reached retirement age. But instead of lying low, he decided to continue working. The New York City resident and former U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge for the Southern District of New York joined Jaspan Schlesinger because of its deep bankruptcy practice.

"I made the right move in spite of having to commute to Long Island," he said.

Nora Demleitner, professor of law at Hofstra University School of Law, said lawyers from prominent New York City firms are moving out to Long Island for serveral reasons.

"It's not only a lifestyle issue, but there also are a lot of other advantage," she said, pointing to shorter commutes and more manageable working hours.

In addition, she said young lawyers in particular get involved in large deals sooner and take shorter trips up the ladder to partner status.

Wendy Forrest, an associate at Farrell Fritz who joined the firm in February, said she left New York City-based Kane Kessler because she not only needed a lifestyle change, but she also wanted to take part in larger real estate transactions. "I have been able to do that here and that's what I have been looking to do."