Ron
Torbert
(Photo
by
Kevin
Sabitus/Getty
Images)
Ron
Torbert
is
no
stranger
to
high-pressure
situations.
The
Harvard
Law
grad
was
a
Biglaw
partner
—
of
the
equity
variety
—
at
Dykema
Gossett,
described
as
a
“star”
trial
attorney
by
colleagues.
As
Dykema
CEO
Leonard
Wolfe
told
Bloomberg
Law,
“Ron
consistently
demonstrated
a
level
of
knowledge
and
excellence
that
led
to
a
successful
legal
career.”
Wolfe
continued,
saying,
“He
also
was
a
clear
leader,
as
involved
in
the
business
of
the
firm
as
he
was
with
individual
lawyers
learning
their
craft.”
Torbert
retired
from
the
law
in
2019,
but
he
hasn’t
taken
retirement
as
an
opportunity
to
back
away
from
intense
situations.
He’s
also
an
NFL
referee
—
and
took
the
lead
officiating
position
in
last
night’s
Super
Bowl
between
the
Philadelphia
Eagles
and
the
Kansas
City
Chiefs.
You
might
not
assume
that
lawyer
and
NFL
ref
are
jobs
that
have
much
in
common,
but
Torbert
can
draw
the
connections
between
his
passions.
“Being
a
lawyer
has
helped
me
to
be
a
better
official,”
Torbert
said.
“In
both
fields,
you
take
in
information,
apply
rules
and
the
philosophy
behind
them,
and
reach
a
decision.”
And
fellow
lawyer-cum-NFL
ref
Clete
Blakeman,
of
personal
injury
law
firm
Carlson
&
Blakeman,
said
Torbert
is
suited
to
the
Super
Bowl
job,
“Ron
is
well-deserving
of
this
assignment.
He
is
a
true
professional.”
He
added,
Torbet
is,
“Always
the
man
who
is
calm,
cool,
and
collected.”
Super
Bowl
59
was
Torbert’s
second
Super
Bowl
officiating
gig,
but
his
first
time
in
the
lead
role.
Ahead
of
the
game,
the
officiating
came
under
a
lot
of
focus,
as
conspiracy
theorist
speculated
that
the
refs
favor
Kansas
City.
An
early
questionable
offensive
pass
interference
call
against
the
Eagles’
AJ
Brown
did
not
help
matters.
But
Philadelphia
overcame
that
early
call,
dominating
the
Chiefs
and
winning
40-22.
Kathryn
Rubino
is
a
Senior
Editor
at
Above
the
Law,
host
of
The
Jabot
podcast,
and
co-host
of
Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
AtL
tipsters
are
the
best,
so
please
connect
with
her.
Feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments
and
follow
her
on
Twitter
@Kathryn1 or
Mastodon
@[email protected].