R. Robert Popeo, the chairman of the powerhouse legislation agency Mintz Levin and an integral a part of Boston’s enterprise and civic communities for greater than 40 years, died on Monday, based on the legislation workplace. He was 85.
Popeo handed away peacefully within the presence of his household, the legislation workplace confirmed.
As the chairman of Mintz and a member of the agency’s Policy Committee, Popeo has been credited with establishing the agency’s Litigation Practice — and the nationally acknowledged White Collar Criminal Defense Practice.
“Bob led by example and was a tireless and enthusiastic advocate for clients,” Bob Bodian, managing member of Mintz, stated in a press release on Monday. “Bob had a storied profession and his success as a litigator and a pacesetter set the inspiration for what Mintz has turn out to be at present.
“We will remember him as a legendary lawyer, a creative strategist, a tenacious force, an involved and generous member of his community, and a good friend,” Bodian added.
Popeo performed a key position in reforming the Massachusetts courtroom system, based on his bio.
He represented a variety of high-profile shoppers, together with CEOs, medical doctors, legal professionals, and main political figures. He additionally represented a number of Fortune 500 firms and their administrators and officers.
“Bob derived great pleasure from the success of the firm, in which he played a major role throughout his career, and seeing the success of his colleagues,” Bodian stated. “We are grateful for Bob’s numerous contributions to our shoppers, our individuals, our tradition, and the communities that Mintz serves.
“Bob had a remarkable influence and impact on so many and he will be sorely missed,” Bodian added.
Across federal, state, and administrative courts and companies nationwide, Popeo tried among the most extremely publicized white collar legal circumstances within the nation.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld on Monday informed the Herald that he determined to affix Mintz in 2012 due to Popeo. Weld reminisced about his time as U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts within the Eighties when the workplace indicted 111 public corruption circumstances in 5 years. The workplace secured convictions in 110 of the 111 circumstances; Popeo was the protection lawyer within the one case that didn’t result in a conviction.
“He did such a brilliant, brilliant job there,” Weld stated, later including, “He was easily the greatest lawyer in Massachusetts.”
“Bob would make sure he would master everything about the case,” Weld stated.
Popeo was within the information final 12 months for a high-profile case out of Boston federal courtroom. Popeo was on the Mintz crew that secured an acquittal on all prices introduced towards consumer Amin Khoury, who had been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, sincere companies fraud and federal packages bribery. The trial was tied to the nationwide school admissions scandal generally known as “Operation Varsity Blues.”
“As magnificent a lawyer as Bob Popeo was — and there was none better — he was even more magnificent a human being, and there was also none better,” Jeffrey Robbins, of Saul Ewing and who can also be a Herald columnist, stated in a press release.
“He had an unrivaled capacity to give — to family, to friends (and there were thousands of those), to his colleagues, and to his community, writ large,” Robbins added. “The expression ‘there will never be another one quite like him’ has been used before. But it is hard to imagine it applying to anyone more than it does to Bob.”
The metropolis “has lost a true, grand Bostonian,” stated George Okay. Regan, Jr., the chairman of Regan Communications Group.
“Bob Popeo is among that rare pantheon of leaders that has made the city what it is today,” Regan stated. “I have treasured Bob’s friendship and guidance for decades since my days working for Mayor Kevin White. As an attorney, Bob Popeo was involved in many landmark cases and as a philanthropist, his heart knew no bounds. I am a better person for knowing Bob. He was a father figure for me and he will be sadly missed by all.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”