By MATT CHANDLER
mchandler@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1654

Nearly four decades after he started practicing law as an attorney with the Internal Revenue Service, Phil Brothman still has a passion for what he does.

Relaxing in a sitting room of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, Graycliff, Brothman reflected on an illustrious legal career, what drives him to continue at the age of 72 and how he came to be a critical player in the restoration of Graycliff.

The Buffalo native says he always liked the law, even during his early days at Bennett High School. That passion followed him to the University at Buffalo, where he earned his law degree in 1962. The rest, as they say, is history.

"I started working with the IRS and they sent me to New York City for schooling," he says, referring to his first job out of college. "The second week I was there, I was admitted to the bar. And the third week I was there, my wife and I got married."

Might sound like a crazy few weeks, but as Brothman says with a chuckle, the government paid for his honeymoon.

"They paid me $16 per day as a per diem. Eight dollars was supposed to go for the hotel and eight for food," he recalled. "We found a place we could stay for $15 per night."

Though he enjoyed his work as an estate tax attorney for the government, Brothman set his sights on going out on his own. And just four years removed from law school, an opportunity presented itself.

"A wonderful country practice"

"I was introduced to Floyd Hurst, a solo practitioner in Angola who had been named executor of a $4.5 million estate and he needed help," Brothman says. "He asked me if I would come out and work as a special counsel on that file. I worked for three years on that estate and over that time we became friends."

The friendship blossomed into a partnership that would last for nearly 40 years.

"He was a great guy with a wonderful country practice. We formed a partnership and practiced law in the Town of Evans, Village of Angola, from 1966 to 2004," Brothman says. "When we began, it was just Floyd, myself and a secretary. When we merged with Harris Beach in 2004, we had five lawyers and about 11 staff people. So we had grown into a nice little firm."

Was it difficult for Brothman, who had been calling the shots for many years, to hand over control and merge with Harris Beach?

"The move was great," he says. "At the time, I was thinking about slowing down. Another benefit was that I got to shed myself of the administrative responsibilities, which was nice."

By that time, Brothman had developed not only his estate tax practice but had carved out a growing school law practice.

"Harris Beach had a great reputation in Rochester representing school districts, but they didn't represent any in Western New York," he says. "We've now got between 17 and 20 school districts we represent."

Changing times

Technology aside, has Brothman seen a lot of changes in 40 years of practice? In a nice, lawyerly response, he says yes ... and no.

"I would venture to say that the estate tax practice, the overall process of doing it, is largely the same," he says. "However, the area of school law has changed tremendously since I was hired in 1969 to represent Lakeshore Central School District. Now it has all become so specialized."

Another element that has evolved since his beginnings at the IRS: the attorneys themselves.

"The thing that I see with the young lawyers today is that they are sharp. The ones in our firm, they are go-getters, quick - they pick things up so quickly," he says. "The finished product they give you is so good."

Guiding Graycliff

As for Brothman's role in the Graycliff Conservancy, Executive Director Reine Hauser calls him "invaluable" because of the work he has done over the last 13 years on behalf of the restoration project.

"We wouldn't be where we are today if it wasn't for Phil," Hauser said.

Brothman, who has worked with Graycliff since the beginning, deflected the praise but shared a tale of how that relationship began.

"First of all, I didn't think I would be involved at all because I didn't think they would ever get it off the ground," he says. "Then when we saw it was really viable, and once the house was purchased, that's when all the fun started."

He has worked with the Conservancy on everything from the original purchase in 1997 of the property overlooking Lake Erie to the business plan, financing and incorporation matters. It is a relationship he treasures, even if he never expected it to come together.

"To be honest with you, I was sort of trying to discourage them," he says. "I mean, $450,000 (purchase price for Graycliff) and they didn't have a dime."

Thirteen years later, as the Conservancy continues its effort to restore Graycliff to Wright's original 1929 masterpiece, Brothman says he is glad the group proved him wrong.

"For me, I knew who Frank Lloyd Wright was but I didn't know much more than that, and I didn't know that Graycliff was even here," he says. "One of the greatest things I've gotten out of this experience is an appreciation for Frank Lloyd Wright's work and what he has done."

Today, Brothman splits his time between Buffalo and his second home in Florida. As he eases toward retirement, the longtime attorney says he still loves what he does, but he has a passion for the golf course, too.

"I'm in what we call a transition period at Harris Beach, in the second year of a five-year transition," he says. "For now, I'm taking more time off and it's working out really well."

Do you know an attorney who is doing unique and exciting things in their practice? Someone you think is a "Legal Eagle"? We are always looking for interesting individuals to profile. Send your suggestions to mchandler@bizjournals.com.