Bill Roberts, longtime lawyer at Blank Rome and Center City Renaissance man, has died at 79
“His legacy is not just in the legal wisdom he imparted,” said Alan J. Hoffman, chair emeritus at Blank Rome, “but in the cultural richness he brought to our lives through his shared experiences and deep knowledge.”
Mr. Roberts "was a friend's friend, not just a lawyer’s lawyer,” a longtime friend said.Courtesy of the family
Bill Roberts, 79, of Philadelphia, longtime lawyer and general counsel at Blank Rome LLP, botanist, musician, literary scholar, volunteer, and Center City Renaissance man, died Friday, Aug. 30, of interstitial lung disease at his home.
Mr. Roberts was a popular associate in the litigation department, then partner, then general counsel at Blank Rome from 1972 to his retirement in 2021. He helped shape the firm’s leadership structure and oversaw a rapid expansion as its first general counsel in 2009.
Colleagues called him “a lawyer’s lawyer,” and he represented clients in complex cases about antitrust, free speech, legal malpractice, federal election campaign finance law, and other high-profile issues. He was known as Blank Rome’s “lethal weapon in a velvet glove,” and Grant S. Palmer, chair and managing partner, said Mr. Roberts was “instrumental to our success. We are all better people for having known Bill.”
Roberts earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Harvard University and law degree at the University of Pennsylvania, and was versed in fishing, international travel, and ancient Greek and Latin literature in addition to botany and music. “His legacy is not just in the legal wisdom he imparted,” said Alan J. Hoffman, chair emeritus at Blank Rome, “but in the cultural richness he brought to our lives through his shared experiences and deep knowledge.”
Mr. Roberts played the lute.Courtesy of the family
He lived in Center City for decades and was a research associate on the botany staff for the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University. He specialized in the wild plants of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, and searched for botanical references in the original texts of authors such as Homer, Theocritus, and Virgil.
He played the violin and lute. He was president of the board of directors for the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia for 30 years, chair of the board of trustees for the Harvard Review of Philosophy, and trustee and member of several other cultural, academic, and professional groups.
“His brilliance as a lawyer, coupled with his compassionate and composed demeanor, left an indelible mark on our firm’s trajectory.”
Grant S. Palmer, chair and managing partner, at Blank Rome on Mr. Roberts
In 2023, as a member of the advisory council of Rowan University’s College of Performing Arts, he arranged for famed pianist Mikhail Voskresensky to play at Rowan. “Bill pursued richly varied interests with unabashed singularity,” his family said in a tribute.
Mr. Roberts represented communications specialist Stephan Rosenfeld and SEPTA in the 1990s, and Rosenfeld said his work was “masterful, and not only was his laserlike focus and intellect obvious to any observer, in his humble, understated way, he commanded the respect of all involved.”
Mr. Roberts clerked for Judge Malcom Muir in federal court and President Judge Clinton Budd Palmer in state court before joining Blank Rome.Courtesy of the family
Other colleagues at Blank Rome called Mr. Roberts “wise, distinguished, calm, ethical, funny, and honest” in a tribute, and noted his “unmatched contributions, sound advice, and steadfast commitment” to the firm. His niece, Lisa Detwiler, said: “He was enthusiastic, insightful, and thoughtful.”
William Henry Roberts was born June 14, 1945, in Buffalo, N.Y. He was curious and energetic as a boy, and he became known for his remarkable memory and what colleagues called his “encyclopedic knowledge of everything.”
“Even if he was under the weather, he was always so positive and, first and foremost, concerned for my well-being. A strong and steady voice of encouragement.”
Longtime friend Stephan Rosenfeld on Mr. Roberts
He lived in Williamsport, Pa., and Short Hills, N.J., before settling in Philadelphia. He clerked for judges in federal court and state court before joining Blank Rome in the early 1970s, and he did pro bono jobs for years for organizations he supported.
He followed politics closely, enjoyed the theater, and traveled to Canada and Europe often. When a nearby bookstore closed, he bought its giant shelves and hired a carpenter to refit them for his vast personal library.
A friend said: "Bill was always upbeat, sharing his thoughts on the election or the Phils' stretch run."Courtesy of the family
He fished for trout with fly rods and led botanical sightseeing tours in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. He even pointed out distinctive plants at company golf outings and hosted botany happy hour on Fridays after work to talk about flora with friends and colleagues.
“He was friendly and patient,” his niece said. “He was lovely.”
Bill was smart and versatile. He was an editor of the Blotter literary magazine, and used to hide in the Miller newspaper room with those of us who wanted to avoid going to pep rallies. He was also a violinist, and won the award for "best science and math student." I look back fondly on those iconoiclastic newsroom days
Bill and I were in the same dorm our freshman year at Harvard, so I saw him quite often that year. We found our own paths that took us in separate directions after that, but always found a few monents to catch up now and then. I think that the last time that we spoke was at our 50th college reunion back in 2017. He clearly created a very full and productive life for himself after MHS. A good man. RIP.
Mark Batshaw
Obituary:
Bill Roberts, longtime lawyer at Blank Rome and Center City Renaissance man, has died at 79
“His legacy is not just in the legal wisdom he imparted,” said Alan J. Hoffman, chair emeritus at Blank Rome, “but in the cultural richness he brought to our lives through his shared experiences and deep knowledge.”
Bill Roberts, 79, of Philadelphia, longtime lawyer and general counsel at Blank Rome LLP, botanist, musician, literary scholar, volunteer, and Center City Renaissance man, died Friday, Aug. 30, of interstitial lung disease at his home.
Mr. Roberts was a popular associate in the litigation department, then partner, then general counsel at Blank Rome from 1972 to his retirement in 2021. He helped shape the firm’s leadership structure and oversaw a rapid expansion as its first general counsel in 2009.
Colleagues called him “a lawyer’s lawyer,” and he represented clients in complex cases about antitrust, free speech, legal malpractice, federal election campaign finance law, and other high-profile issues. He was known as Blank Rome’s “lethal weapon in a velvet glove,” and Grant S. Palmer, chair and managing partner, said Mr. Roberts was “instrumental to our success. We are all better people for having known Bill.”
Roberts earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Harvard University and law degree at the University of Pennsylvania, and was versed in fishing, international travel, and ancient Greek and Latin literature in addition to botany and music. “His legacy is not just in the legal wisdom he imparted,” said Alan J. Hoffman, chair emeritus at Blank Rome, “but in the cultural richness he brought to our lives through his shared experiences and deep knowledge.”
He lived in Center City for decades and was a research associate on the botany staff for the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University. He specialized in the wild plants of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, and searched for botanical references in the original texts of authors such as Homer, Theocritus, and Virgil.
He played the violin and lute. He was president of the board of directors for the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia for 30 years, chair of the board of trustees for the Harvard Review of Philosophy, and trustee and member of several other cultural, academic, and professional groups.
In 2023, as a member of the advisory council of Rowan University’s College of Performing Arts, he arranged for famed pianist Mikhail Voskresensky to play at Rowan. “Bill pursued richly varied interests with unabashed singularity,” his family said in a tribute.
Mr. Roberts represented communications specialist Stephan Rosenfeld and SEPTA in the 1990s, and Rosenfeld said his work was “masterful, and not only was his laserlike focus and intellect obvious to any observer, in his humble, understated way, he commanded the respect of all involved.”
Other colleagues at Blank Rome called Mr. Roberts “wise, distinguished, calm, ethical, funny, and honest” in a tribute, and noted his “unmatched contributions, sound advice, and steadfast commitment” to the firm. His niece, Lisa Detwiler, said: “He was enthusiastic, insightful, and thoughtful.”
William Henry Roberts was born June 14, 1945, in Buffalo, N.Y. He was curious and energetic as a boy, and he became known for his remarkable memory and what colleagues called his “encyclopedic knowledge of everything.”
He lived in Williamsport, Pa., and Short Hills, N.J., before settling in Philadelphia. He clerked for judges in federal court and state court before joining Blank Rome in the early 1970s, and he did pro bono jobs for years for organizations he supported.
He followed politics closely, enjoyed the theater, and traveled to Canada and Europe often. When a nearby bookstore closed, he bought its giant shelves and hired a carpenter to refit them for his vast personal library.
He fished for trout with fly rods and led botanical sightseeing tours in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. He even pointed out distinctive plants at company golf outings and hosted botany happy hour on Fridays after work to talk about flora with friends and colleagues.
“He was friendly and patient,” his niece said. “He was lovely.”
Susan Becker (Ott)
Bill was smart and versatile. He was an editor of the Blotter literary magazine, and used to hide in the Miller newspaper room with those of us who wanted to avoid going to pep rallies. He was also a violinist, and won the award for "best science and math student." I look back fondly on those iconoiclastic newsroom days
Ken Froewiss
Bill and I were in the same dorm our freshman year at Harvard, so I saw him quite often that year. We found our own paths that took us in separate directions after that, but always found a few monents to catch up now and then. I think that the last time that we spoke was at our 50th college reunion back in 2017. He clearly created a very full and productive life for himself after MHS. A good man. RIP.