In Memoriam: Sidney Todres

Time passes very quickly in a law firm, with a constant influx of new attorneys. Thus, while many of us recall Sid as if he never left us, many others of us would not have known him. The attached obituary provides a good bit of detail, but can't come close to capturing the intellect, warmth, and self-effacing irony that characterized this lovely man. Sid, who was a mainstay of our New York office, was a gifted securities lawyer who could devise strategies and responses that solved complex stock issuance and regulatory matters at the SEC and before federal courts. He offered expert guidance to actual and would-be public companies, and was a valued co-counsel in litigation and business matters. His knowledge of the securities laws, and insight into compliance solutions was unsurpassable. His attention to detail, and what we often joked was his snail-like pace in editing a document word-by-word in the shadow of impending deadlines, perhaps were best, and most-ironically, evidenced, when the Firm was sued over a prospectus that Sid had written to support the IPO of a California health care company. That prospectus carefully described every cognizable risk that might have been realized as the company went public. In contradistinction to the theory of virtually every other securities case, the plaintiff was a potential investor who complained that he, and those he purported to represent, had decided not to invest because they were put off by a prospectus that they claimed painted too pessimistic a picture of the company's future. Of course, Sid had provided a true and detailed examination of things that insightful investors readily understood and appreciated, and the securities issuance and the company itself proved to be as greatly successful as the meretricious lawsuit proved otherwise.

Sid not only was a highly valued colleague to the lawyers he worked with, but he was beloved by the administrative staff. He always was mindful of their situations both inside and outside of the office, and he endeared himself to those around him by frequently bringing them snacks and goodies. His affinity for ice cream was legendary.

In 1986, our partner, Lowell Lifschultz, came up with the idea for a working referral group of lawyers around the world, and he invited Sid and me to London, for what became the organizational meeting of the International Lawyers Network. Sid, with the considerable social influence of his wife, Bunny, became a mainstay of that organization, which has grown large and successful. And Sid came to be held in great affection among our ILN colleagues, not just in the U.S., but in Europe, South and Central America and Asia as well.  As we mourn his loss, we give thanks for his life.  Sursum corda.