Below, Jon shares a few departing thoughts with colleagues at the Bar and longtime friends.
Dear Colleagues at the Bar and Longtime Friends,
After enjoying the good fortune of practicing law in Charlotte for the last 45 years, I am retiring in January, 2025.
I am particularly lucky to have spent the last nine years at Essex Richards with its talented group of independent, accomplished, and well-respected lawyers — including Woody Connette, Ken Essex, Steve Morris, Rob Blair, Heather Culp, Lauren Lewis, Norris Adams, John Daniel, and Natalie Potter. Working with these fine lawyers – and good-hearted individuals – has been a wonderful privilege.
I began my law practice in 1978 as an associate with Helms, Mulliss & Johnston. I was that firm’s 16th lawyer, and I had the opportunity to learn about the practice of law from many outstanding partners there – the likes of Ozzie Ayscue, Larry Dagenhart, Herb Browne, Bob Cordle, and Loy McKeithen. The firm’s culture was familiaI. Partners actively mentored associates, who became partners and, in turn, served as mentors for the next generation of associates. HM&J was a law firm first, a business second. Practicing with that supportive team of lawyers taught me most of what I know about the law and much of what I know about life.
I became a partner at HM&J in 1984. Shortly thereafter, we became Smith Helms Mulliss & Moore, and I worked with this core group of outstanding lawyers as the firm grew to about 225 lawyers before merging with McGuireWoods in 2008.
The focus of my practice became representing media clients – such as The Charlotte Observer, WBTV, The Business Journal, The Fayetteville Observer and national media entities that often needed assistance in North Carolina. I built close relationships with many publishers, news directors, editors and reporters over the decades, and I believed deeply in their mission. I loved helping media clients win access to public information, keep courtrooms and court records open to the public, quash subpoenas to reporters, and defend against libel threats and lawsuits. And I enjoyed working with media lawyers from around the country who shared my passion for this work.
Throughout my career, the lawyers I’ve respected most have also cared deeply about service to their Bars and their communities and viewed it as a duty for lawyers. My time involved with the N.C. Bar Association and with the Mecklenburg County Bar gave me the opportunity to get to know many lawyers around the state and in Charlotte – learning about their professional skills as well as their personal contributions to their communities. I encourage all young lawyers to seek out that Bar participation because it will make the practice of law a more meaningful pursuit.
I will certainly miss much about my law practice: it is, after all, a great honor to be asked, and trusted, by a client to help solve a difficult legal problem. And achieving the right result for that client always brings deep satisfaction.
But, at 74, it’s time for me to focus on other adventures. I look forward to hitting more tennis balls, casting more dry flies in the direction of rainbows and browns, reading and writing a little more, and staying engaged in a few civic roles. Most of all, I will find much joy in spending more time with my grown children and with my fun and constantly active grandchildren!
I’ll leave the next generation of lawyers with a nugget of wisdom that my best mentor and role model Ozzie Ayscue shared with me decades ago.
In pursuing a career, always remember this: the important goal is not making a living, it is making a life.
All best wishes,
Jon Buchan