Sean, third from left, and our September 2023 Portugal’s Fishermen’s Trail

Join us on our latest installment in the “Who Is Parallel?” series. Today, we meet Sean - a tennis-playing, globe-trotting, super-dad, who happens to be a former Assistant US Attorney in New York City, now partner in his own firm and recently named as one of 2024’s Leading Lawyers in America. (Sean didn’t brag to us about all of this, by the way - we did our own research!)

Please read on for our brief interview with Sean - another fantastic member of the Parallel family.

In a couple of sentences - tell us about yourself. (Where do you live, how do you fill your days, do you have kids, etc.)

I live in Brooklyn, NY, and have two kids in college: one in Colorado and one in Washington DC. I work in Manhattan and play a ton of tennis and have become a bit of a tennis junkie over the past five years.

What Parallel trip(s) have you been on?

I went on the Portugal Fisherman’s Trail hike in September 2023.

Why did you choose Parallel?

I chose Parallel because I have known Chad [ed. note: Chad Olcott is Parallel’s director] for a number of years through Apogee Adventures and consider him a friend. Both my kids were repeat Apogee students and went on expeditions in New England, the Pacific Northwest, and Europe and had transformative experiences. I knew Chad and his team would run a professional and friendly operation and when Chad told me about Parallel I jumped at the chance to take a trip. Also, my daughter was spending a college semester abroad in Lisbon, so that sealed it for me as I was able to visit my daughter both before and after the week of hiking.

Sean with his daughter and a buddy hanging out in Portugal after our Parallel trip

Any particularly memorable moments from your Parallel trip?

I went with a good friend and we made a bunch of new friends on the trip. Our guide [ed. note: the incomparable Miles Bent] was fantastic and the trip had just the right balance of being guided and “unguided.” The coastline of Portugal is gorgeous and each day we were able to take a midday dip in the water at breathtaking and secluded beaches with smooth sand and clear water. Our guide gave great recommendations on local restaurants and the accommodations were perfect.

Sean, his buddy, and our own Miles Bent (left) enjoying dinner on the “trail.” Look at the size of that seafood platter!

If you are considering another Parallel trip, why?

I am considering the trips to the Costa Brava and to Ireland [ed. note: the Ireland itinerary is being beta tested this spring and will be available to everyone later in 2024 or early 2025]. Who wouldn’t want to take those trips? Each location is gorgeous and each would give me the added benefit of being able to visit family members nearby.

Where is your next bucket list trip spot (whether with Parallel or not!)?

Iceland! Cuba! Japan! New Zealand!

Who is Parallel? Parallel is Sean from Brooklyn!