Ernest Rubenstein (1928-2023)

[Probably because I spend so much time in my research with lawyers like Ernest Rubenstein but a generation or so older, I was fascinated by the following obituary, sent by Brad S. Karp, Chairman, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, to the firm’s partners on Saturday, August 5.  It appears here with Mr. Karp's permission.  DRE]

I am very sorry to share the news that Ernie Rubenstein passed away earlier today at the age of 94.

In its illustrious history, Paul, Weiss has had a number of partners who were giants at the firm and in the community, partners whose legacy was indelible, partners who loved and served the firm faithfully.  Ernie Rubenstein was all these things.

Ernie graduated from Princeton University in 1950 and from Yale Law School in 1953, where he served as Editor in Chief of the Yale Law Journal.  Ernie went on to clerk for Justice Tom Clark of the U.S. Supreme Court during the Court’s 1953-54 Term and was in the courtroom on May 17, 1954, when Chief Justice Warren read the unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education, outlawing segregation in our nation’s public schools.  Ernie has described that day as the most satisfying of his life.

Four weeks later, on June 14, 1954, Ernie joined Paul, Weiss.  Ernie was elected partner, effective January 1, 1962.  Ernie was a legendary lawyer at the firm.  He chaired the corporate practice at Paul, Weiss for many years.  He developed and maintained a very significant and loyal client following.  He chaired the firm for many years, as Chair of the Committee on Committees.  In 1956, Ernie recruited Arthur Liman to Paul, Weiss, having learned at a bachelor party of Arthur’s otherworldly talents at Yale Law School.  Ernie traveled to the Liman family home in Lawrence, Long Island and camped out in his driveway waiting for Arthur to return.  When he did, Ernie recited the list of Paul, Weiss firsts and single-handedly persuaded Arthur to join the firm and turn down the offer of law professor at Yale Law School.

That story captures the essence of Ernie Rubenstein: determined, brilliant, persuasive, creative, passionate, loyal.  Ernie loved Paul, Weiss.  He generously mentored generations of Paul, Weiss lawyers, including me.  He celebrated the history, values and tradition of the firm at every opportunity.  It was Ernie who pushed in 1974 to develop the oral history of the firm and conducted so many of the interviews of the firm’s legendary partners.  It was Ernie who commissioned and personally oversaw the drafting of Judge Rifkind’s works, One Man’s Word.  It was Ernie who preached the importance and sanctity of our firm’s culture to everyone in the Paul, Weiss community.

Ernie was old school in all the very best ways.  He was the ultimate perfectionist, setting an impossibly high bar for himself, one that none of us could possibly hope to attain.  Ernie was a Rifkind disciple and believed that the law was a noble profession and we all had an obligation to serve our community.  Ernie served on countless not-for-profit boards, including the Educational Alliance, where he served for 40 years, including a decade as Chair and President.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Tova, his three children, Jane, William and Susan, his two step-children, his five grandchildren and six step-grandchildren, and his three great grandchildren.