In Memory of Paul S. Edelman
The Kreindler & Kreindler family is sad to announce the passing of Paul S. Edelman, our treasured friend and colleague.
Paul was a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge at age 19. He then attended and graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, where he was a classmate of Lee S. Kreindler, a founder of the firm. Lee and Paul became close friends — they were best man at each other’s weddings. Paul then became one of the first lawyers to join the Kreindler & Kreindler firm in 1953.
He enjoyed a long, and extremely successful career with the firm and became a pioneer in the field of plaintiff’s maritime law. He was a remarkably skilled advocate for the rights of crewmembers, passengers and their families.
Paul’s first big case involved the 1956 sinking of the Andrea Doria off Nantucket. Over the next five decades, he worked on a long series of notable maritime and aviation disasters. He successfully navigated and won countless trials and appeals for his clients.
Paul was renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of cases and the law, which he gladly shared with his fellow lawyers. He had a regular admiralty column in the New York Law Journal for over 20 years, authored many articles and served on numerous bar committees.
His maritime expertise was recognized by The American Association for Justice (AAJ), which established an annual award in Paul’s name in 2015.
Most of all, Paul was loved for the humor, kindness and civility that he shared with everyone around him. He was a true gentleman and a leader demonstrated by his wonderful example.
Paul will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.