Very excited to share my conversation with Mr. Patrick O’Connor who is a lifelong family friend and was one of my dad’s very best friends! Patrick is one of the founding partners of Cozen O’Connor law firm, which was founded in 1973 with five lawyers. Today, 47 years later, there are 29 offices globally and 750 lawyers.

We start out the interview talking about Patrick’s childhood. He was born in Wilkes Barre, PA and one of 10 children. His father passed away when he was just 15 years old so his mother, who became his hero, stepped up to raise the 10 children. Patrick went to King’s College and then Villanova for law school. At age 30, he took a risk and left a prominent law firm in Philadelphia to become one of the founding partners of Cozen O’Connor. He tells us all about the gritty entrepreneurial journey of building a company.

Fun fact: what Cozen O’Connor made in one year in 1973 is now equivalent to what they make in a half a day. Patrick has also been on the board of Temple University since he was 28 years old and was also Chairman of the Board of Trustees for 10 years. 

Patrick not only talks about his career path but also sprinkles in universal life lessons, such as the importance of failure and humility, taking risks, the definition of success, and his love for his wife Marie and four children and 12 grandchildren — they are wonderful people!