Community and Advocacy
“I’ve learned that strength comes from both community and compassion — two principles that guide my practice every day.”
The Human Story: Personal Journey and Advocacy
After facing a life-threatening liver condition and receiving a liver transplant, Rich found a renewed sense of purpose — to advocate for others and to give back to the community that supported him.
Rich’s journey began in August 2019, when he was rushed to the hospital with a sudden, life-threatening blood infection. The diagnosis—metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)—came without warning or time to prepare. In an instant, his life changed forever.
He was fortunate to be under the care of an extraordinary medical team—Drs. Samstein, Matthew Ben, Robert Brown, Lorna Dove, and Brett Fortune—and the compassionate professionals at the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation at Weill Cornell Medical Center @ NewYork-Presbyerian, including Amiee Muth, LCSW. Even with their expertise, the path forward was uncertain. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic deepened the sense of isolation and fear as Rich battled a chronic, progressive disease, unsure of what the future held.
Throughout this period, his doctors remained steadfast. They managed his hepatic encephalopathy and the debilitating symptoms of liver failure with remarkable dedication. Rich continued his legal practice, served on nonprofit boards such as the Metropolitan Opera, and supported his family—all while privately confronting the physical and emotional toll of his illness.
In December 2020, a malignant tumor was discovered on his liver. Although it was successfully removed, it became clear that his liver would not recover—he urgently needed a transplant. For six long months, he waited, each day marked by uncertainty and hope. On May 30, 2021, the call finally came: a donor liver was available. The next day, under the skilled hands of Dr. Samstein and his team, Rich underwent a successful transplant surgery.
The experience changed him profoundly. Grateful for the gift of life from an anonymous donor, Rich now uses his platform to advocate for organ donation awareness and to support those facing chronic illness. His personal journey is a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of compassionate care—a perspective that continues to inform his work as both an attorney and an advocate for others.
Rich emerged with a renewed sense of purpose. He sees estate planning not merely as a legal process, but as a moral one—an opportunity to help individuals and families find security, clarity, and grace in life’s most uncertain moments. His experience gives him an uncommon empathy for clients navigating difficult conversations about health, legacy, and love.
“With thanks to a world-class medical team, I’ve walked my daughter down the aisle. I’ve watched my son thrive as an opera director. I’ve opened my law firm, and even won a silver medal at the Transplant Games of America.”
I got a hole-in-one. I sing. I serve. I live. “
Health Advocacy
Rich is a National Board Member of the American Liver Foundation’s (ALF) and served as Gala Chair for ALF National Legacy Gala in October 2025, helping raise awareness about organ donation and supporting transplant patients nationwide.
Rich also serves on the Board of Directors of the Masonic Medical Research Institute, headquartered in Utica, New York.
Community Involvement/Advocacy
Mr. Miller, a trained opera singer, served as the President of the Metropolitan Opera Guild for many years, until 2023, and is currently a Managing Director of the Metropolitan Opera. He is also involved with several organizations and volunteer boards including the American Liver Foundation, the Bagby Foundation for the Musical Arts, Inc., Chanticleer, the New Criterion and MasterVoices. He formerly served on the boards of Glimmerglass Opera, the Lake George Opera Festival, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the American Associates of the Royal Academy Trust, the International Festival of Aix-en-Provence and the Emma Willard School.