Peter J. Riley, born June 7, 1956, in Teaneck, New Jersey, died Saturday, August 1, 2009, of complications from cancer. He was an attentive and devoted father who took great pride in his daughters and his family.
He is survived by his daughters, Peyton Riley and Rachel Riley, both of Dallas, Texas; father, John B. Riley and his wife Carol of Austin, Texas; mother, Mary Ann Riley of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; sister Mary Parker and brother-in-law Bill Parker of Ardmore, Oklahoma; brother John B. Riley, Jr. and sister-in-law Susan Riley of Cornwall on the Hudson, New York; sister Kathy Hernandez and brother-in-law Brian Hernandez of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; nieces and nephews Lindsay Nicholas, Megan Weaver, Will Parker, Laura Parker, and Emily Parker; and Laura Latham Riley.
Known to all as "Pete," he attended high school in Houston, Texas, and graduated from The University of Texas in Austin, Texas, where he played on the golf team. A passionate and avid golfer, Pete learned the game at a young age at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey, and was a member of Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas, Texas.
Pete earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management, with honors, from The University of Texas at Austin in 1978 and his Juris Doctor degree from SMU Dedman School of Law in 1981, where he was an editor of the Southwestern Law Journal. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1981.
At the time of his death, Pete was Chairman of Thompson & Knight LLP and served as Managing Partner of Thompson & Knight and Chairman of its Management Committee from 2001-2009. Pete was a visionary and great leader who helped transform Thompson & Knight from a regional law firm to an international law firm. He began his legal career at Thompson & Knight in 1981 and became a partner in 1987. During his tenure as Managing Partner, the Firm expanded its reach with multiple offices and affiliated practices in the United States, Central and South America, Africa, and Europe. In 2007, the Firm was recognized by The American Lawyer as one of the country's top 40 U.S. firms based on growth in three key financial performance areas. As a result of Pete's vision, Thompson & Knight became the first U.S. law firm to form an ancillary business focused on global energy consulting. He served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of Thompson & Knight Global Energy Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Thompson & Knight LLP. Pete was named in Who's Who in American Law and The Best Lawyers in America and was included in Texas Super Lawyers and the Top 500 Leading Lawyers in America. In 2008, he was featured in the article "100 Managing Partners You Need to Know" in Lawdragon. Under Pete's leadership, Thompson & Knight was named for six years in a row one of the Dallas Business Journal's "Best Places to Work." He and the Firm also earned consistent recognition for efforts and achievements in enhancing diversity in the legal profession. Last year, Pete oversaw the Firm's move to its new headquarters in the Dallas Arts District. He approached this decision focused on the Firm's clients, and on creating the best possible work environment for attorneys and support staff. Major considerations included technology, transportation, an environmentally friendly workspace, and other amenities important for first-class client service and a productive workforce. As a result of the design of this space, Thompson & Knight became the first law firm in the state of Texas to receive Silver Certification in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council. Pete served on the Board of Directors for the Dallas Regional Chamber, was a Trustee of the Safer Dallas Better Dallas Foundation, and was actively involved in the Dallas Citizens Council. He was on the Board of Directors of the Students in Free Enterprise Foundation and a member of the World Affairs Council and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council. He was also a Life Fellow of both the Dallas Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation.
Pete will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues. Memorial services are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, 4124 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75219.
Donations may be made to the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy located at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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