Attorney and St. John’s Alumnus: “Community of Caring” Brought Out the Best in Me

One of his most notable experiences was arriving at the University’s Queens, NY, campus on the day he was scheduled to take his constitutional law exam. “I was clearly distracted because it was the same day that my father was undergoing open-heart surgery,” said Mr. Lynch.

A student who was not a close friend sensed something was wrong and approached him. Mr. Lynch told him about his father’s surgery and the student offered to drive him to the hospital to see his dad after the exam, suggesting that Mr. Lynch probably should not be driving while preoccupied with concern.

“This act of kindness, which was offered spontaneously, reflected the support received from the St. John’s community, including those outside my close circle of friends,” Mr. Lynch said.

He received the same treatment from his professors, who, besides providing him with a solid education, wrote recommendation letters for his applications to law school and related scholarships. “They were all incredibly supportive, and extremely bright and challenging.”

That combination of caring and competence propelled Mr. Lynch into a successful career practicing tax and insurance law. He is currently a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, a Manhattan, NY, law firm known for its work in corporate transactions and finance, insurance, asset management, and high-profile litigation.

Mr. Lynch is widely considered a leading and trusted adviser in developing organizational and operational structures related to investments in the dynamic global insurance industry. He was recognized as a leading tax lawyer in The Legal 500, for excellence in insurance law and tax law in The Best Lawyers in America, and as a Thought Leader in Insurance and Reinsurance in Lexology.

Raised in Howard Beach, NY, Mr. Lynch had a strong work ethic instilled in him by his family that he continued to develop during his years at St. John’s. He landed his first newspaper delivery route when he was 11.

“It was the best experience for a preteen because I was essentially running my own business,” Mr. Lynch recalled. At 13, he began to work at a motel in Queens owned by his uncles, where he cleaned dozens of rooms per shift in addition to his many other duties related to the motel’s operations.

He looked up to his father and uncle as role models for developing his work ethic. “My father, after serving in the Navy, earned his engineering degree while working full time and raising three children, with a fourth on the way during his final year of studies. As a teenager, my uncle would get up well before sunrise to work in his grandfather’s bakery, after which he would attend high school and then proceed to his evening job at the restaurant owned by his parents,” said Mr. Lynch.

When he was ready for college, Mr. Lynch said, “I wanted to expand my horizons and meet more people—and it was very easily accomplished at St. John’s. I wasn’t interested in leaving Queens, which remained home to my immediate family and much of my extended family.”

Other family members were also drawn to St. John’s for their college education. Mr. Lynch’s three sisters earned their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University. In addition, he counts many work colleagues as fellow St. John’s alumni.

“You can do very well in the business or legal world, or wherever you go, with a St. John’s education. It is important to recognize that success and satisfaction are not necessarily interchangeable, and to strive to attain your best balance through hard work and dedication,” said Mr. Lynch. “My exposure to demanding work is a tremendous gift that my family—and St. John’s—bestowed upon me.”