Everyone at Pryor Cashman is deeply saddened by the loss of our founding partner, Saul “Pete” Pryor, who passed away on October 23, 2008 in Denver, Colorado at the age of 92.

Gideon Cashman, Chairman of the Firm, in a statement to the entire firm, said the following about Pete:

“Today is personally a sad day for me. I have lost my old friend and partner. Pete and I have been extraordinarily close for the last 45 years. For those in our firm who go back to Pete's retirement at the end of 1985, you have your own memories of Pete and these undoubtedly remain vivid. Pete was that kind of man. He left his mark on his colleagues and, above all, on this thriving firm of which we are so proud.

“From the very beginning, ours was a symbiotic relationship: We got along easily and in the true spirit of partnership. He was learned and not only in the law. He was a great conversation­alist. A great storyteller. A good friend. 

“Pete, in my opinion, is the one who more than anyone else created a culture of profess­ional excellence in our firm. The ideals he stressed are part of our identity and in no small measure account for our reputation and our continuing success.

“When he retired just as he was approaching 70 years of age, I was astonished. He was as sharp as a tack and every bit an extraordinary lawyer.  His retirement was a great loss to our firm and a great loss to the entire legal community. But he wanted to be with his family in Colorado. He did just that and did it happily for a long period of time. He has had a distinguished life and it is painful to know that he is now gone.”

Pryor represented some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including Duke Ellington, Bob Dylan, Paul Newman, Neil Diamond, Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel, Petula Clark, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Tony Bennet, Jerry Lewis, The Brothers Four and Allen Funt of Candid Camera fame.

Pryor was also one of the leading American lawyers in dealing with the Japanese entertainment industry, working closely with Tetsu Aoyagi of Japan Licensing Corporation. In addition, Pryor played a key role in the joint venture between Warner Brothers and Pioneer Electronics, the latter being a longstanding client.

Pryor, the son of Russian immigrants, graduated from City College in 1935 and received his law degree from Columbia Law School in 1938. Pryor was a brilliant student and was editor of the Columbia Law Review.

Upon graduation, he went to work for the firm of Jaffe & Jaffe in New York City. When World War II broke out, Pryor enlisted and distinguished himself as a soldier, landing at Utah Beach as part of the “D-Day” invasion. Pryor also participated in the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp and convinced his commanding officer to force the neighboring villagers to visit the camp which they had denied existed.

In 1963, Pryor and David Braun started the firm of Pryor & Braun. Gideon Cashman joined the firm a few months later and together they created the firm that today is known as Pryor Cashman LLP. The firm, which principally represented clients in the music, publishing and motion picture industries, today numbers over 130 attorneys and has offices in both New York and Los Angeles.

Pryor retired in 1985 and moved to Colorado to be closer to his family. After his retirement, Pryor acted as Chairman of the Board of Discovision for several years.

Mort Lewis, the long-time manager of Simon & Garfunkel who knew Pryor for more than 50 years, praised Pryor’s superlative abilities as an attorney. Lewis stated that when he first saw Pryor in action, he “immediately discharged my lawyer and hired Pete Pryor.” Lewis continued:  “Whenever there was something legal, he (Pete) handled it for me, successfully negotiating recording contracts and personally represented him in dealings with booking agencies and record companies. He handled everything so professionally and we remained close friends right up until the last day of his life.” 

Pryor was married to Amy Spier, who died in 1993, for over 50 years. He is survived by his son, Sam, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Amy, and their children, Kimi and Damien; and his daughter Ellie, who lives in Denver with her husband Pat and their children, Jeff and Andy.

Memorial services were held on October 28, 2008 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Donations may be made in Pete Pryor’s memory to Break the Cycle, Los Angeles, CA, www.breakthecycle.org.