Donald Chesworth retires after distinguished legal career

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After more than five decades in the legal profession, iconic Rochester-area attorney Donald Chesworth, a former managing partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, officially retired on March 31.

“I just thought it was time. I’ve been practicing law for 50 years and I thought, now it’s time,” said Chesworth, 84, who lives in Irondequoit with his partner, Marilyn Sanchez.

“My plans are to take life easy, to enjoy life, and spend a lot of time with Marilyn, and just do what I want to do. And that’s to be around the house and work on things and fix up things and enjoy life,” he said.

He’ll also be spending more time with his three children and five grandchildren.

Chesworth decided to become a lawyer as a teen.

“In high school I knew I wanted to become a lawyer, and my father encouraged me to purse that passion,” said Chesworth.

After earning his juris doctor at Yale Law School in 1966, Chesworth worked as a special agent in the FBI. In addition to leading investigations of organized crime in Monroe County, he provided legal advice and instruction to others in law enforcement.

In 1976, Donald became the Second Assistant Monroe County District Attorney. In 1977 he was promoted to First Assistant District Attorney.

He was appointed District Attorney in 1981 by then-Gov. Hugh Carey, and subsequently elected to a full term. In 1983 then-Gov. Mario Cuomo appointed Chesworth to be Superintendent of the New York State Police.

In that position, he developed the Trooper Foundation: a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping State Police better serve the public.

By managing donations of goods and services to the State Police, the Trooper Foundation resolved the ethical problem that donated goods might be misconstrued as inappropriate.

The Trooper Foundation enabled the public to support the troopers protecting their communities with donations of everything from special training to microwaves.

Leading the State Police was Chesworth’s favorite role.

“That gave me an opportunity to positively affect police in the entire state as well as other organizations at the same time,” he said.

“I think I’ve been very fortunate to be in the right place to do good things for people and to protect the public,” he said.

Other notable accomplishments from his tenure as superintendent include increasing the size of the force, initiating sobriety road checks, and establishing the Forensic Sciences unit.

In 1987, Chesworth went into private law practice. From 1990 to 1996, he served as chairman of the Temporary State Commission of Investigation. During that time, he and Wayne Harris founded the firm of Harris & Chesworth, the predecessor firm of Harris, Chesworth, Johnstone & Welch LLP.

“For 30 years I worked closely with Don Chesworth on litigation for clients in two law firms,” said Eugene Welch, retired partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC.

“He always kept the client’s interests as our goal. But he also always had a calming influence on everyone: the clients, the opponents, and the attorneys without giving up anything,” Welch said.

Chesworth joined Tully Rinckey in September 2018 as managing partner of the firm’s Rochester office. His eight years at the firm have been defined by a resolute commitment to ethics and dedication to his many clients.

“When Mathew Tully and I founded this firm, we envisioned leaders who would carry our values forward with purpose and conviction,” said Greg Rinckey, founding partner at Tully Rinckey.

“Don has done exactly that. His leadership as managing partner has left a lasting imprint on our culture and our future,” Rinckey said.

“As a founding partner, it has been incredibly meaningful to watch Don guide this firm with such purpose and care,” said Mathew Tully.

“His tenure as managing partner reflects the very best of what we set out to build,” he said.

Chesworth has maintained ties with the Monroe County Chiefs of Police Association, and the State and Provincial Division of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, serving as counsel and legal advisor.

He has worked closely with the Humane Society of Rochester and Monroe County, the Rochester Community Boating Foundation, Rochester Area Crimestoppers, the State Trooper Foundation and Lifespan.

“Working alongside Don has been both an honor and a privilege,” said Anthony Kuhn, managing partner of Tully Rinckey’s Buffalo, and Syracuse offices.

“Beyond his accomplishments as managing partner, he has been a trusted colleague and friend whose guidance and perspective have meant a great deal to me. His impact on this firm is immeasurable,” Kuhn said.

Last year, Chesworth was selected as a Lifetime Achievement honoree by the New York Law Journal’s New York Legal Awards in recognition for his commitment to the practice of law, and generosity with his mentorship.

“Don’s tenure as managing partner has been defined by steady leadership and an unwavering dedication to developing others,” said Michael Macomber, CEO of Tully Rinckey PLLC.

“He understood that the strength of a firm lies in its people, and he made mentoring attorneys a priority every day. His influence will continue to be felt in the countless careers he helped shape,” he said.