Andrew Odell, a Duane Morris international law partner who practiced with Koch, said, "We used him all the time" to greet international clients and foreign representatives.
"He was very prominent, and everybody wanted to be seen with him," Odell said.
Once Koch flew to São Paulo, Brazil, where the city's mayor was thinking about improving public housing and needed lawyers to help raise funds, said Odell. The mayor and Koch hit it off so well the mayor gave Koch a private helicopter tour of the city.
Koch's former law partners remembered ways in which he boosted the firm's reputation.
Robinson Silverman "was a marquee firm but not a household name," said Miriam Hyman, who left for Duane Morris in 2007.
When mention of the firm would result in a blank stare, she said, she would say, "That's where Ed Koch is, and they would say, 'Oh, yes!'"
"It was always a positive factor that he was affiliated with us," she added.
Gill said Koch gave the firm visibility.
"Having him on board as a partner was very positive…to have that kind of person available for consultation and advice and recommendation," Gill said.
Peter Fitzpatrick, a former law partner now at K&L Gates, said Koch was "very giving of his time."
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