Mark Whitford Jr.

Partner, Rochester Managing Director,
Barclay Damon LLP

Years in current role: 2

What do you expect to be the biggest challenges for the legal industry locally in the near future?

Recruiting talented attorneys to practice in Rochester. Unlike other upstate cities, we do not have a law school in Rochester, so we need to continually recruit attorneys to practice here. As firms in larger cities have continued to offer more flexibility to allow attorneys to work remotely, it has become as challenging as ever for firms to recruit attorneys to practice in Rochester.

What are your favorite aspects of the types of law you practice?

I really enjoy my insurance coverage practice, which is something I never would have imagined saying at the start of my career. I assumed the position would require a lot of contract interpretation, but I never expected the variety of claims that I encounter on a regular basis, ranging from complex and mass tort losses, criminal matters, labor and employment disputes, IP controversies and financial transactions. I also enjoy that it requires a lot of negotiation to resolve complex disputes and that I have the opportunity to work with attorneys throughout our firm when they encounter unique insurance issues with their clients.

What career do you think you would have if you weren’t a lawyer?

A teacher. I really enjoy the process of explaining ideas and concepts that are new to others and helping them work through difficult challenges. It is a part of the practice of law that I have always enjoyed when working with younger attorneys and clients.

This profile is part of our Power 50 Law list for 2024. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at nydailyrecord.com.