City of Rochester
News Release
(Wednesday, March 31, 2010) – Thomas S. Richards, the City’s Corporation Counsel was honored today with a 2010 Top Counsel Award by The Daily Record. The Rochester real estate and business newspaper honors several general counsel and staff attorneys each year as top counsels who have demonstrated innovative and practical business and legal skills and had a positive impact on the organization they serve. Mr. Richards received his award today during a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Rochester Downtown.
Mayor Robert J. Duffy attended the event along with Deputy Mayor Patricia Malgieri and other City staff and City Council members. “Tom Richards epitomizes the ideals that this award recognizes,” said the Mayor. “Tom consistently demonstrates exceptional character, integrity and ethics and he has made a significant contribution to the City’s endeavors. On behalf of the Rochester community, I extend hearty congratulations for this well-deserved honor.”
Mr. Richards has been an integral member of the Mayor’s senior management team as the City’s top legal officer. From negotiating the sale of the fast ferry, to helping keep the Genesee Brewery Downtown, to coordinating the Midtown Rising project, Mr. Richards has helped the City address its challenges with a balance of creativity and bold action. His experience as former Chairman of Rochester Gas and Electric has contributed to his success in public policy affairs.
After Mr. Richards graduated from Bucknell University in 1965, he joined the Navy and spent his last year there commanding a swift boat in Vietnam. He graduated from Cornell Law School in 1971 and joined the firm of Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle, the predecessor Nixon Peabody, LLC, where he became managing partner. He then went to Rochester Gas and Electric as general counsel, eventually becoming Chairman. He retired from RG&E at age 63 and a year later, Mayor Duffy asked him to be Corporation Counsel for the City.
“This is an interesting job,” Richards said. “It matters to people what we do–from trash collection to Midtown–there are a lot of interesting things that go on.”
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