Christopher H. Palmer is the managing partner of Cullen and Dykman LLP, chair of the firm’s banking and financial services practice and serves on the firm’s executive committee.
Chris has overseen the strong growth of the firm into a major regional powerhouse, a firm with nearly 200 attorneys in seven office locations in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.
In his practice, Chris has broad experience in all types of complex financing as the firm represents a wide array of commercial banks and financial institutions in structuring and negotiating financing transactions.
Chris also serves on a multitude of boards, committees, bar associations and professional organizations, including serving on the Board of Trustees for Catholic Charities of Long Island.
Chris also is an adjunct professor at St. John’s University School of Law currently teaching the Real Estate Workouts and Bankruptcy course. Most importantly, Chris has 3 wonderful children — Christopher, Meghan and Kate — and lives in Garden City, New York.
Chris was honored at the 2023 Real Estate Achievement and Leadership Awards spotlighting leading professionals and visionaries in the Long Island real estate industry.
He was also previously honored with his inclusion on the Long Island Press Power List, celebrating the region’s most influential business, nonprofit, and government leaders.
Chris earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, and his B.A. in economics from Binghamton University. Chris also graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, and currently serves as co-chairman of the golf and tennis committee.
How do you see your business evolving due to the changing times?
Founded in 1850, Cullen and Dykman is the fourth oldest law firm in New York.
We didn’t earn the stellar reputation we now have as a result of not being flexible or not changing with the times. In many ways, we’re still the same firm we were almost 175 years ago in that we put our clients and their needs first.
However, business models and what clients expect from their law firm has changed dramatically over the years. We’ve always been prepared to meet their needs and make any appropriate changes when and where necessary.
What advice would you give other business owners?
Always remain flexible and never become deeply entrenched in handling things only one particular way.
Times change as business patterns go through cycles. No business will stand the test of time if they don’t adapt to the environment they currently face.
Oftentimes, when I ask others “Why do you do things that way,” a common response I receive is “Well, that’s the way we’ve always done it.”
To me, that is unacceptable. Our clients and their business needs come first; as such, we need to adapt and be flexible to find the right solutions for them.
