Bret I. Parker Named Executive Director of New York City Bar Association

The New York City Bar Association has chosen Bret I. Parker to succeed Barbara Berger Opotowsky as its Executive Director as of the Association’s Annual Meeting on May 21.

Parker is currently Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Elizabeth Arden, Inc. and President-Elect of the International Trademark Association. Previously, he was Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Wyeth (now part of Pfizer Inc.) and Assistant General Counsel with the Colgate-Palmolive Company. Prior to going in-house, he worked in private practice at the New York offices of Dorsey & Whitney and Townley & Updike. He also clerked for Hon. K. Michael Moore of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Parker has been a member of the City Bar since 1996 and has chaired its Trademarks and Unfair Competition Committee, served as a member of the Pro Bono and Legal Services Committee and serves as a City Bar delegate to the New York State Bar Association House of Delegates. He was also Director of Wyeth’s Pro Bono Program, Chair of the Pro Bono and Outreach Committee of the New Jersey Corporate Counsel Association (and member of its Board of Directors) and a member of the Pro Bono Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He serves as a Member of the Patient Council of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Parker attended the University of Pennsylvania (B.A.) and Fordham University School of Law (J.D.), where he was Managing Editor of the Fordham International Law Journal.

“Bret has outstanding qualifications, including a strong background as a practicing lawyer, long and active involvement as a member of the City Bar, a commitment to public service and pro bono, and a strong history of leadership and management success,” said City Bar President Carey R. Dunne.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the New York City Bar Association as Executive Director,” said Parker. “I look forward to continuing the extraordinary work of Barbara Berger Opotowsky and the fine team she has assembled, while applying my experience to guide the Association to where it needs to go next.”

Opotowsky announced in November that she would step down on May 21 after a 15-year term. Parker’s start date is set for April 29th, to allow for a transition.