Donald O. Chesworth

Donald O. Chesworth, a Partner in the Rochester office of Tully Rinckey PLLC, focuses his practice on governmental compliance, business law, municipal liability, commercial law, employment law and management issues.

Donald was admitted to the bar in Connecticut in 1966 and in New York in 1972. He is no longer active in the Connecticut bar. He is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Donald graduated from Graceland College, magnum cum laude in 1963 and from Yale Law School with a Juris Doctor’s degree in 1966. He is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association.

Donald served in the FBI after graduation from law school in 1966 and began his private practice with the law firm of Goldstein, Goldman, Kessler and Underberg, now known as Underberg & Kessler in 1972. In 1976, Donald became the Second Assistant District Attorney of Monroe County. In 1977 he was promoted to First Assistant District Attorney and was appointed District Attorney in 1981 by Governor Hugh Carey. He ran for office as District Attorney in 1981 and was elected to a full term. In 1983 Governor Mario Cuomo appointed Donald Superintendent of the New York State Police.

In January of 1987, Donald returned to private practice and became the Managing Partner of Goldstein, Goldman, Kessler & Underberg. In 1990 Donald joined the law firm of Harris, Evans, Fox & Chesworth. That same year he was appointed Chairman of the Temporary State Commission of Investigation (State Crime Commission) which he chaired until 1996. In 1993 he founded the firm of Harris & Chesworth with Wayne Harris, which was the predecessor firm to Harris, Chesworth, Johnstone & Welch, LLP.

While actively involved in law practice, Donald has been involved in many charitable civic organizations including the local Chambers of Commerce, The Rochester Humane Society, Rochester Area Crime Stoppers, The New York State Troopers Foundation and Lifespan. Donald serves on the Board of Directors of an upstate area National Bank and has done so since 1996. He is also a member of the Monroe County Civil Service Commission where he has served since 2011.

Donald has maintained his relationships with Law Enforcement and is counsel to the Monroe County Chiefs of Police and is the legal advisor to the State & Provincial Division of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.