Get to Know MCCM Of Counsel Douglas J. Lustig - Why did you become a lawyer?
Did you ever wonder what made us decide to become lawyers? Maybe you wondered what we do when we’re not practicing law? Welcome to the latest post from our “Get to Know Us” series, featuring different members of our MCCM team, where we answer those questions. Our next post features Douglas J. Lustig
Why did you become a lawyer?
When asked, “Why did you become a lawyer?” I don’t have to think too hard. After I graduated from Syracuse University with a business degree, I was faced with continuing on to graduate school, going to law school, or serving in the Vietnam War. Since I was not interested in graduate school or excited about the war, I chose to go to law school.
My first day of law school was a disaster. No one fully prepared me for what I was getting into. Out of the 100 students in my Torts class, of course I was the very first person to be called on by the professor, to stand up and report on the case that had been assigned as homework. Totally unprepared, I confessed that I had no idea. The professor responded, “On the first day you get one pass and can sit down.” This situation was right out of the movie Paper Chase. In my second class with that same professor, I was again the first person to be called. He asked, “Did you brief the case today?” After I replied “absolutely,” he responded, “Sit down; I hope you learned your lesson.”
Based on my father’s financial situation, in law school, I decided to build on my business background. I took Creditor’s Rights, Real Estate, and Bankruptcy courses; these courses gave me the future to my business and bankruptcy practices.
The three years of law school were tough, but I graduated with honors.
My career has been not only as a Chapter 7 Trustee for over 40 years, but also as an advocate for hundreds of clients filing their own cases. I always felt motivated to file a case that I knew could help my clients.
Biggest case: I was appointed as the Trustee in seven Chapter 7 Ponzi scheme cases by the District Court Judge, and was able to recover millions of dollars for customers who had been wronged.
Interesting case: I successfully chased a debtor to New Zealand, in order to recover stolen funds for creditors.
Other high-profile cases: I filed Chapter 11 cases for Hill TV, Eddie’s Chophouse, Varsity Inn of Rochester, to name a few.
Fun fact: I caddied for a South African golfer, Gary Player, for seven rounds in the 1968 Men’s U.S. Open golf tournament at Oak Hill Country Club.
Personal: My wife, Karen, and I have three children and four grandchildren.
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About MCCM
McConville Considine Cooman & Morin, P.C. is a full-service law firm based in Rochester, New York, providing high-quality legal services to businesses and individuals since 1979. With over a dozen attorneys and a full paralegal support staff, the firm is well-positioned to right-size services tailored to each client. We are large enough to provide expertise in a broad range of practice areas, yet small enough to devote prompt, personal attention to our clients.
We represent a diverse range of clients located throughout New York State and New England. They include individuals, numerous manufacturing and service industry businesses, local governments, and health care professionals, provider groups, facilities and associations. We also serve as local counsel to out-of-state clients and their attorneys who have litigation pending in Western New York courts. For more information, please contact us at 585.546.2500.