Cotrone composes his retirement plan

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Milwaukee native Carlo Cotrone does not plan to retire anytime soon, but when he does, he’s got an active second career to fill his days outside the legal world.

In addition to his role as a partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Milwaukee, Cotrone said he considers himself a pianist, organist and harpsichordist by avocation. The 2000 Marquette University Law School graduate has been juggling his legal career and musical work for more than 10 years, now, and said he finds the mix beneficial.

“Music helps me maintain perspective in a complex and often difficult world,” he said.

Years ago, as a new lawyer struggling to learn the practice of intellectual property law at a large Washington D.C. firm, Cotrone found late-night solace at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church in Arlington, Va., where he would go after work to practice the piano, organ and harpsichord.

No matter what Cotrone’s workday had presented, he said, the sanctuary always was a place for introspection and creation.

“It was for stress relief,” he said, “but it was also a way to tap into my talent. I found it very much a counterbalance to the interesting but also very challenging field that the law can be.”

Cotrone has played piano since the second grade and always was active in the church through music, he said. At Mt. Olivet, he met Robert Swift, another church musician, who soon became a mentor, encouraging Cotrone to experiment. He tried the organ and harpsichord with Smith’s support.

“I find pursuing music to be something where there’s a personal act to it,” Cotrone said, “where you’re active and creating something new. But it’s also a chance, hopefully, to share your music with others.

“So it becomes a way to connect with people, to share something with them and hopefully help them see something that’s beautiful, interesting and sometimes transcendent.”

When Cotrone decided to return to his native Milwaukee and joined Michael Best & Friedrich, he continued with his musical pursuits once the workday was done.

“My goal has always been to serve clients,” he said. “That’s my top priority. Then I try to squeeze in as much as I can of these fulfilling personal pursuits.”

Cotrone created “Christmas Around the World,” a concert at Milwaukee’s Kenwood United Methodist Church that brought together several area musicians. The free concert, where attendees were asked to donate to charity, was so well received that he was encouraged to do it again the next year.

“Christmas Around the World” is now an annual concert series that has been broadcast on Milwaukee Public Radio for the past three years. Planning is under way for this year’s Dec. 10 event.

Cotrone said he sees parallels between music and law, in that excellence in both requires extensive study, practice and creativity. Collaboration plays a central role in both, as well, he said, whether he’s playing music with others or working with a team of attorneys on a transaction.

When Cotrone retires, many years from now, he said, he plans to devote himself entirely to family and music. His wife, Jennifer Campbell, is a vocalist who has performed in operas and musicals.

“I’m not alone in this,” he said, “but I think music is such a powerful medium to help a lot of us stay grounded and hopeful for life.”