Chairman Joseph H. Jacovini's Remarks

Distinguished friends and colleagues,

As we reach another milestone in the rich and historic journey of the Dilworth Law Firm, it is a proper moment to reaffirm the founding principles of this great institution. 75 years is time enough to validate our value system and style of practice. It is not too long to lessen our desire and energy to climb to new heights in the future, a goal to which we are strongly committed. Make no mistake about it, what distinguishes one firm from another are the shared values of its partners. To paraphrase those magnificent words from the "Leopard", the true significance of a prominent Firm, like ours, lies entirely in its traditions, its vital memories, which have been handed down by our partners now for eight decades. This is our credo.

Service to Our Clients

We believe that our highest responsibility and duty is service to our clients. We acknowledge and revere the sensitive fiduciary relationship between us and our clients who repose in us their absolute confidence and trust. We are morally obligated to never, ever betray that trust even when it requires great sacrifice on our part. When all is said and done, it is not all about money in the infamous words of one Philadelphia lawyer. Rather, our first loyalty lies with our clients and not profits per partner nor revenues per attorney.

Service to the Community

We believe, as the public has historically expected of lawyers from the founding of our country, that our professional responsibilities require public service to our community, our region, our state and our nation. Former great members of this Firm such as Richardson Dilworth, William Coleman, Dolores Sloviter, Bruce Kauffman and Robert Casey, heeded the call of public service and emerged as recognized and respected leaders of government and the judiciary. Their careers continue to be an inspiration to all attorneys, both young and not so young. I am proud to say that several newer members of our firm are carrying on that tradition by holding public office and serving on the boards of non-profit, charitable and civic organizations which make a difference in our community. We believe that the legal profession must move beyond the entrenched paradigm for corporate and trial lawyers and encourage and train lawyers for expanded roles in the ever evolving political, economic and social structures of the 21^st century global community and economy.

Service to our Profession

We believe, as officers of the Court, in an inviolate and abiding duty to uphold the highest standards of our profession. Each of us took an oath to do so when we were admitted to the Bar. For us, law cannot be a job, it is a calling. We believe in a culture that needs lawyers who are not only well trained in the law analytically, but who are also imbued with the vital spirit and traditions of the profession.

Duty to Educate Young Lawyers

We believe we have a responsibility to teach young lawyers not just how to be forceful advocates, but forces for good. The speed, scope and dynamics of change in 21^st century American society and business demand changes in the skills, motivation and roles of lawyers. Therefore, we must be open to adopt changes in the processes by which we teach our young lawyers. For us, the ideal professional training is to have our young lawyers be in close contact with our senior lawyers who are leading practitioners of the day. We believe this to be the best way to instill in our young lawyers a deep and steadfast responsibility and loyalty to the client, to the court, to the public and to the profession.

Diversity

We believe that opportunities in our firm and in the legal profession should be based solely and strictly on merit, not race, religion, color, ethnicity, sex, age, sexual preference or any other human condition. For us, this is a moral imperative. The very existence of our firm is a testament to a commitment to equal opportunity and to diversity. By attracting people of every conceivable background and station in life, we become better and stronger. Lawyers have been at the forefront of the civil rights movement in this country in the past 125 years. We are proud of the fact that Dilworth lawyers have been leaders in that cause both within the Firm and without.

Traditional Partnership Values

We believe that as members of our Firm, there is a special bond formed by a common calling and value system. We owe duties of loyalty and respect to each other. We seek to enhance the reputations and careers of our colleagues, we stand by our partners in their good times and in times not so good. good partners never, ever utter an unkind word about others; good partners never take unfair advantage, good partners easily deflect credit to others; good partners act not for personal interest, but solely for the good of the firm; and good partners perform countless acts of kindness and generosity that they never speak of. I am proud to say that this is the character of the Dilworth partners who have led this Firm for 75 years.

Continuing Commitment

We believe that by our passionate and dedicated pursuit of service to our clients, our community, our profession, and to each other, the Dilworth Firm of today is carrying on the mission and ideals of our founders. In this we take great pride and personal and professional satisfaction. And we have a good time to boot. As the great humanitarian Albert Schweitzer once said, "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve".

And so, ladies and gentlemen, as we look into the future in the years and decades to come, as our lawyers and our firm are ranked among the very best in the country and acknowledged as leaders in the legal profession, let us at this point in time offer a toast to the magnificent efforts of our colleagues past, present and future, whose vision, fortitude, passion and good judgment will have insured us all a successful journey.

Please join me in saluting the men and women of the Dilworth Firm and their families. Congratulations. And Happy Anniversary!!!