The news of the passing of career general counsel Robert Bostrom rocked the in-house counsel community last week. Most recently as the chief legal officer at the struggling home decor retailer Pier 1 Imports Inc., Bostrom rose to prominence after holding the top lawyer position at Freddie Mac during the recession and later at the struggling apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

Colleagues say Bostrom was passionate about uplifting the in-house and Big Law community through his involvement with several organizations and his advocacy for pro bono work and diversity and inclusion.

Though he gravitated to the highest lawyer position at companies undergoing challenges, Bostrom also succeeded in Big Law as a partner at Winston & Strawn, Greenberg Traurig and Dentons, paving a unique legal career in both the in-house and law firm environments.