Eckert Seamans Mourns Lawrence R. Bailey, Jr.
May 7, 2018
Lawrence R. Bailey, Jr., a member of Eckert Seamans’ Board of Directors, passed away on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Westchester, New York, after a brief illness. He was 68.
“The Eckert Seamans family grieves the passing of Larry Bailey and our prayers and deepest sympathies are extended to his family,” said firm CEO Timothy Q. Hudak. “Larry was a talented lawyer, a trusted counselor, a friend, and role model and mentor to many.”
Mr. Bailey joined Eckert Seamans in 2010 and served as a member the firm’s Board of Directors and as the Co-Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. His practice was focused on the transportation industry, including FELA and other railroad matters, product liability, litigation, and personal injury defense. Mr. Bailey specialized in defending significant litigation against Fortune 500 companies and tried more than 50 cases to verdict, predominantly in New York and New Jersey. Active in the profession, he previously served as the President of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel; Vice President and Chair of the Torts, Insurance, and Compensation Law Section of the New York State Bar Association; Chair of the Rail and Motor Carrier Law Committee of the Torts Insurance and Products Liability Section of the American Bar Association; and as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Bailey earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Lehigh University.
“While we are profoundly saddened by the loss of a friend, colleague, and leader, we are exceptionally grateful for Larry’s contributions to our firm, the bar, and the community,” said Steven R. Kramer, Member-in-Charge of Eckert Seamans’ White Plains office. “He will be deeply missed.”
Mr. Bailey is survived by his wife Bettye Easley Bailey, his children from former unions, Lawrence R. Bailey III (Houston, Texas), Dr. Regina Bailey (Houston, Texas), and Elizabeth R. Bailey (Alexandria, Virginia); and grandchildren Fiona G. Bailey and Lawrence R. Bailey IV; brothers, Dr. Bruce Bailey and Lamont Bailey, Esq., and sister, Susan Bailey. He also leaves his stepmother, Norma Bailey-Payne and her husband, Stephen Payne; stepchildren Brent Coleman, Dr. Arika Easley-Houser, and Jeffrey Easley; step-grandchildren Kennedy Coleman, William Coleman, and Tyler Houser as well as a host of relatives and friends.
Lawrence was born on June 28, 1949 in Harlem, New York, to the late Cora T. Walker, Esq. and the late Lawrence R. Bailey, Sr., Esq. He attended Horace Mann School in the Bronx, New York, and obtained his undergraduate degree from Lehigh University and law degree from New York University. After he graduated from law school, Larry went into partnership with his mother and formed Walker and Bailey Law Firm in Harlem. Despite having Fortune 500 companies as clients, they resisted the pressure to move downtown and remained in Harlem as a beacon to provide quality legal services to corporate clients as well as residents of Harlem. After the death of his mother, he became a partner at Hodgson Russ, LLP and subsequently at Eckert Seamans, where he became the first African American attorney to become an equity partner.
Larry served as the President of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, was a member of its Board and was Vice President of the New York State Bar Association for over six years. Prior to that, Larry served as Chair of Torts, Insurance, and Compensation Law Section of the New York Bar Association and a long-term member of the Trial Lawyers Section of the New York Bar Association. He was also a former Regional Director for Region 2 of the National Bar Association. Larry was a member of ABORTA, the American Board of Trial Advocates, specializing in defending significant litigation against Fortune 500 companies, and had tried almost 50 cases to verdict. Additionally, Larry served as a former Board Member of the Little Orchestra Society.
Visitation is on Thursday, May 10, 2018 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., followed immediately by a memorial service at Teaneck Presbyterian Church, 1 Church Street, Teaneck, New Jersey 07666. The burial services will be held on Friday, May 11 at Noon at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Cora T. Walker Scholarship at St. John’s University School of Law, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica, NY 11439. Condolences can be sent to Benta’s Funeral Home at info@e-bth.com.
