I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing this week of Lew Rose, a visionary in the early days of the Internet who was one of the first lawyers to create websites and later went on to achieve great success in the fields of advertising and consumer law An illustrious career included a six-year term as managing partner of the law firm Kelley Drye.
I once wrote an article about the first law firm to launch a website, and I gave that honor to Venable, which first launched a website in 1994. But Lu was one of the first lawyers to have a website.
As I wrote in 1996, in 1994 Lew, then a partner at Arent Fox, “joined the 10 or so lawyers who had ventured online to date by creating his Advertising Law Internet site.” It was the first One or one of the first websites dedicated to helping visitors learn about an area of law.
As I continued: “At first, he didn’t tell his firm. Then, in February 1995, PCComputing’s first list of the top 100 sites ranked him at No. 16—the only law firm on the list. . Ross showed the review to his managing partner, who in turn asked him to make a presentation to the partnership. Soon, Ross was helping the firm develop its own website.”
While Arent Fox was developing its own website, Lu was instrumental in developing a feature called Arent Fox InfoNet, which allowed visitors to participate in discussions on legal topics with the firm’s attorneys. You can still find this content in the Internet Archive and view Lew’s post in the advertising forum.
Lew moved to Kelley Drye in 2001 to lead its advertising law practice. He became managing partner of its Washington office in 2013 and then firmwide managing partner in 2015, retiring in 2019.
In 2022, Lew and his wife, Jacqui, donated $1 million to his alma mater, the University at Buffalo School of Law, to support the school’s clinical programs that provide students with practical training on access to justice issues, including civil rights , domestic violence, criminal proceedings, etc. Justice, etc.
Kelley Drye said of Lew on her website:
“Lou was tremendous and guided the firm with vision and compassion during his years as Managing Partner. The impact he had on people was extraordinary. For the many who sought his advice and guidance on professional and personal matters For me, he was a friend and a mentor.”
When they say he is larger than life, I can attest to that. I had the privilege of knowing him professionally and personally. Lou’s brother is one of my dearest friends.
He was only 66 at the time and by all accounts was just beginning a new phase of his life in retirement, driven by his love of music, travel and food. His death left many heartbroken.