Neil Breslin, of counsel, and Melissa Zambri, managing director of Barclay Damon’s Albany office, were interviewed for the New York Law Journal article “Attorney Retires as Lawmaker, but Is Remaining Plugged in at Barclay Damon.” The article highlights Neil’s recent retirement from his nearly 30-year legislative career and his continued role as an attorney at Barclay Damon.
Neil spoke about his time as chair to the Special Committee on Race in Insurance Underwriting for the National Council of Insurance Legislators, where he was involved with several significant reforms, and as a member of the judiciary committee that advocated for salary increases of assigned counsel panels serving family courts.
Today, the New York legislature is comprised of less than 30 percent attorney lawmakers. Neil said, “I like legislatures which we have now that include doctors and farmers, every possible person, so we get a cross selection of opinion, rather than a lawyer trying to lord himself over the rest of the legislature.” He also credited his background as an attorney as being “invaluable” during his time as chairman of insurance.
Following his retirement from the legislature, Neil intends to remain active at Barclay Damon, where he has been a vital team member since 2007. He said, “It seems to me that I can give advice on insurance issues. In the past, I’ve done negligence law, real property law, and I’m available. Barclay Damon is an enormously important firm, not just in New York (where it has five locations), but along the East Coast.”
His deep knowledge of law and policy, honed through decades of experience, positions him as an invaluable resource for the firm's clients and associates. Melissa said, “There is no substitute for his vast knowledge, his wise counsel. Over the years I’ve found that the person who understands the statutes we’re all working with best are usually the people who have been there from their inception. . . . I’m certain there will be a lot of people calling on his wise counsel now that we get a chance to see him more.”
New York Law Journal subscribers can read the full article here.