Clifford Rieders Recognized for 51 Years at the Bar

The Lycoming Law Association recognized one of its members for over 50 years of service to the people of Lycoming County as a member of the bar. Clifford Rieders was feted at the Association's Annual Banquet.

His long-time partner Corey Mowrey was given the task of introducing Cliff to the audience. Here are his remarks:

The issue before this esteemed organization is how to introduce and sum up someone with such a long and illustrious career in only a few minutes. This issue of first impression is what I am tasked with

I will share some of Cliff’s background and a few highlights from his career, but as he told me, no need to spend much time on facts that anyone can read in his CV.

Cliff was born in Manhattan and raised in Great Neck, NY. He originally wanted to be an astrophysicist.

Cliff received his undergraduate degree from New York University and J.D. from Georgetown University. He was admitted in NY in 1974, and in PA in 1975.

In 1973, he came to Lycoming County to clerk for Judge Malcolm Muir, whom he still regularly and affectionately talks about as a model of character, professionalism, diligence, and excellence. Cliff proudly displays the famous (or maybe infamous) Muir stopwatch in a conference room in our office.

In 1975, he began working at Stuart, Murphy, Hager & Smith and primarily worked for Henry Hager. I know Cliff considers Judge Muir and Henry Hager to be mentors who greatly shaped him as an attorney and person. Fifty-one years later, Cliff is still at the same law firm, which is now known as Rieders, Travis, Dohrmann, Mowrey, Humphrey & Waters.

Over those decades, Cliff paid it forward and mentored many attorneys, including the two partners who he currently practices with (Jeff Dohrmann and myself), as well as countless associates and staff.

Here is what I would like to share from personal experience working with Cliff from the very beginning of my legal career. The firm gave me a chance to do a semester internship while I was a senior at Lycoming College. What you probably will not be surprised by is that Cliff very quickly found projects for me to work on, even in the absence of any useful legal knowledge at that time. What you probably will be surprised by is the level of attention he was willing to give to me as an undergraduate student.

After concluding my last summer of employment, the firm offered me a job upon graduation from law school; I know Cliff had a huge influence in getting all 7 partners to approve of my hire.

Since 2009, I have been at Rieders Travis Law Firm; and since 2018, I have had the opportunity to work alongside of Cliff as his partner. I don’t know what he saw in me, but he gave generously of his time and wisdom.

Cliff and I had countless interesting conversations over the years about many topics, including the law, world issues, and family. I learn something from each conversation. He has a unique way of teaching through storytelling. If he had chosen not to make a career in law, he would have no doubt made an incredible college professor. This may be why he enjoys regularly teaching and presenting. Just last year, he worked with the LLA and the Thomas Taber Museum to spearhead and organize a lecture series that included bringing in esteemed speakers and was a great success.

Cliff is supportive of pro bono work, which he performs through North Penn Legal Services, as well as beyond. He is also supportive of charitable causes, and his family even created a charitable foundation. Cliff always encouraged and supported the work that I have done through professional associations, in performing pro bono work, and especially with the charitable work, which is near and dear to me.

Those who know Cliff know he loves the law, loves teaching about the law, and is a zealous advocate for his clients.

Out of everything I shared about Cliff so far, the following is what he is most proud of and the source of his greatest joy. Despite his great love of the law and his ability to tirelessly work, his career and success are nowhere near as meaningful to him as his family.

Cliff has had the pleasure of walking the path of his legal career alongside his amazing spouse (Kimberly Paulhamus Rieders), who has and continues to be our firm’s manager. In my 7 plus years as a partner, I quickly came to learn that while Kim does not have a vote, she holds great power in partner meetings. As a wise man and an even wiser husband, Cliff respects Kim’s positions on firm matters.

Cliff also has the joy of working with his three children (Sasha, Kaila, and Joshua) in various capacities, all of whom chose to become attorneys.

Cliff (and Kim’s) dedication to and closeness of their family cannot be expressed through words, but through actions. Almost weekly, they commute between Williamsport and Haverford. They do this because Sasha, her husband, and their twin boys reside there, so they can spend weekends together. Joshua also resides there except for while away at law school.

Their middle child – Kaila – lives slightly further away in Israel. They make one or more trips there annually to spend time with Kaila, her husband, and their three children. Even Covid and the recent war could not stop Cliff and Kim from making trips to Israel. Even when Cliff, Kim, and their children are apart, they talk daily. When I am eating lunch with Cliff, there is rarely a day that goes by that one or more of his children do not call. Their family has a special bond. The fact that his three adult children still call him so frequently speaks to the magnitude of the influence he has had on them and the respect they have for him.

Cliff has and is still creating an incredible legacy through the many clients he represented, the countless attorneys and staff he mentored, and especially through his children.

I am honored to recognize Cliff and his 50 (actually 51) years as an attorney. Please join me in recognizing Clifford Alan Rieders.