Jack Middleton celebrates his 95th birthday

McLane Middleton's oldest practicing lawyer in the state receives toast from lawyers, staff and friends

On January 11, nearly 200 lawyers, staff, and alumni of McLane Middleton – as well as others in the legal community – gathered to celebrate Jack Middleton’s 95th birthday at the DoubleTree Hilton in Manchester.

The event included an open bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and six speakers: McLane Middleton CEO Steven Camerino; firm directors Bruce Felmly, Bob Wells, Bill Glahn, and Jennifer Parent; and retired New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice Carol Ann Conboy – an alumna of the firm.

Middleton, the oldest practicing lawyer in the state, has been practicing law for 68 years, 24 of which he spent serving as a part-time New Hampshire District Court judge. In 1982, he brought the IOLTA Program to the Granite State – making New Hampshire the second state in the nation to adopt the extraordinary program.

He is also one of the founders of the New Hampshire Bar Foundation, a former president of the New Hampshire Bar Association, and the second Granite Stater to ever serve as an officer of the American Bar Association.

Barry Needleman, McLane Middleton’s managing director, emceed the event and introduced the first of the speakers, Bruce Felmly.

“Most of us are familiar with Jack as a mentor, a teacher, and an example of what lawyers should be,” said Felmly, a former NHBA president. “Jack provided a masterclass in lawyering.”

After outlining the many things he learned from Middleton, Felmly regaled everyone with humorous stories about the guest of honor’s various trips around the globe.

“This is a man that is engaged with life and has been for 95 years,” he said. “If there’s a place on this planet that he has not been to as an adventurer and a traveler, I don’t know about it.”

Bob Wells then thanked Middleton for his leadership and for giving back, sharing his family, and being a mentor – not just to attorneys but to staff, as well.

“Thank you for being the person that you are – the person who really establishes a model for all of us to follow,” he said. “It’s not an easy one but it’s one that you have demonstrated and one that we should emulate. So, Jack, thank you for being you.”

Bill Glahn took the podium next, delivering a heartfelt speech.

“One of the proudest things that I’ve been able to say in my life is that I’m Jack Middleton’s partner,” he said. “Even if I had two days rather than two minutes [to speak], I still couldn’t possibly describe all that Jack has taught me. David Souter once described Jack as New Hampshire’s representative to everything. Jack is admired by everyone, he’s respected by everyone, and he has been a role model and a mentor to everyone.”

Wells continued: “When I saw Jack yesterday, he told me to keep this short. I told him, ‘I don’t really need two minutes; I can do this in three words.’ To which, Jack replied, ‘yeah, you’ll say he’s really old.’ But those aren’t my three words. My three words are: I owe you. And I think, if I could speak for others in the room, we owe you.”

Before commencing her speech, retired New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice Carol Ann Conboy called out and thanked another McLane director in the audience, Andrew Hamilton, for helping her change her tire an hour before the event. This amusing nugget shook the audience with mirth.

“In my 13 years at the firm, first as an associate, later as a partner, I had the enviable opportunity to work closely with Jack on innumerable cases – large and small, momentous and mundane,” she said in her address. “As Jack’s bag carrier, second chair, and junior partner, I came to know what excellence looks like on the ground. And only after I left the firm to go on the bench did I come to truly appreciate Jack’s far-reaching influence both inside and outside the legal community.”

Justice Conboy ended her oration by citing an Iroquois proverb about considering the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations (approximately 140 years) and saying she believes Middelton’s lifetime of work will be felt well beyond the next 140 years.

She then gave way to Steven Camerino, who read two of five proclamations written for the occasion by Governor Chris Sununu, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, US Senator Maggie Hassan, US Representative Chris Pappas, and US Representative Ann Kuster.

An alumna of the firm and granddaughter of its founder John McLane, Kuster wrote in her proclamation that she counts herself “among the many lucky individuals who have grown and learned with [Middleton’s] wise counsel and guidance.”

Jennifer Parent, a former NHBA president and a founding member of the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association, closed out the panel by leading the attendees in a toast to Middleton.

“Having you in my life has been a privilege,” she said to Middleton before they clinked glasses – his filled with his favorite drink, Dewar’s scotch. “You have changed who I am personally, professionally, and who I am as a human being. And I thank you.”

Following the toast, the man of the hour addressed the room.

“People have had the temerity to ask, ‘when are you going to retire?’” Middleton said. “I usually have a wisecrack answer like ‘when I learn how’ or ‘when Bob Wells does,’ but the reason I haven’t retired is because I like the people at McLane. My partners, paralegals, staff – everyone. It’s a great place to spend your time, so why would I want to go any other place?”

Middleton thanked everyone in attendance, including his kids Susan, Peter, Jack, and three of his grandchildren, before concluding with a humorous declaration that drew hearty laughter and standing applause from the celebrators:

“I would also like to say that I really hope you’re all planning to come back for my 100th birthday celebration,” he said.

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