Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria mourns the loss of one of its founding Partners, Richard Lipsitz, Sr., who passed away on May 18, 2018 at the age of 97. Over his 50 year long legal career, Mr. Lipsitz was lauded for his brilliant mind and dedication to his clients. Throughout his practice, Mr. Lipsitz represented dozens of local and international labor unions, earning the reputation as a legend in the field of labor law. He appeared for clients in various arenas, including successfully arguing in front of the United States Supreme Court to protect academic freedom under the First Amendment. He served both as counsel to and President of the Coalition for Economic Justice for several years. Mr. Lipsitz also received several honors, including those of the New York Civil Liberties Union in 1988, the Industrial Relations Research Association in 1997, the American Arbitration Association in 1989, and various labor union awards. In 2003, the Buffalo AFL-CIO Council honored Mr. Lipsitz with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mr. Lipsitz, along with five other attorneys, co-founded the firm that is now Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria in 1965. Although Mr. Lipsitz formally retired in 1992, he maintained a steady client base and continued to work until his final arbitration at the age of 90. In addition to being regarded as a skilled attorney, Mr. Lipsitz was widely respected for his commitment to his community. He was a devoted patron of the arts and, together with his late wife Rita, supported cultural organizations such as the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera. He was an avid bridge player and played regularly until very recently. His passing is a loss to the firm, the profession, and the community.
For a full obituary on Mr. Lipsitz, including background on his career and personal life, please visit the Buffalo News website.
