Fennemore Craig Celebrates 125 Years of Legal Service
Fennemore Craig is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2010. It is noteworthy that some of the firm's original clients are still its clients through predecessor companies. These include the BNSF Railway, Qwest, Wells Fargo, and ASARCO. The firm has been involved in significant and landmark cases in several areas, including water and environmental law, employment law, appellate, and bankruptcy. The firm's commitment to clients and its tradition of top notch legal services remain central to establishing long-standing relationships with hundreds of clients.
Fennemore Craig traces its history to the firm of Sloan and Chalmers, which opened its offices in one of the few two story buildings in downtown Phoenix in 1885, when the town was then part of the Arizona Territory. One of the firm's founding partners, Richard Sloan, became governor of the Arizona Territory in 1909 and served as its governor until Arizona became a state in 1912. The other founding partner Louis Chalmers, was instrumental in helping to establish the Phoenix National Bank, which later became First National Bank of Arizona, a precursor to Wells Fargo. Another early partner, Edward Kent, subsequently served in the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court. He also authored the Kent Decree, a significant water rights document for Arizona that is still referred to today. Harry Fennemore and Jubal Early Craig joined the firm in 1912 and 1927 respectively. In addition to himself, Mr. Fennemore had two sons who also practiced at the firm. Mr. Craig continued to practice law at the firm well into his 90s before his death in 1974.
The firm enjoys a strong connection with several legal luminaries, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, whose husband John O'Connor joined the firm in 1957 and handled general corporate matters at Fennemore Craig prior to his wife's appointment to the high court in 1981. A notable Fennemore Craig alumna is retired Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Ruth McGregor, who was one of the firm's early women partners. Many great lawyers have practiced at Fennemore Craig, leaving a lasting legacy for those who continue to make the firm one of the most respected in the Western region.
The firm has grown steadily throughout its existence. In 1885, the firm had two attorneys, and by 1935 there were seven attorneys. Thirty-five years later, the firm had grown to 15 attorneys. In 1979, 29 attorneys practiced at the firm and by 1985, there were 80 attorneys. Today, there are nearly 200 Fennemore Craig attorneys with more than 400 staff. Fennemore Craig now is listed on the National Law Journal's Top 250 firms in the U.S., is ranked as a top firm by Chambers and Partners and routinely has many attorneys listed in Best Lawyer in America®.
In addition to growth, the firm also experienced name changes over the years:
1885: Sloan & Chalmers
1899: Jamieson & Chalmers
1902: Chalmers & Wilkinson
1912: Chalmers & Kent
1915: Chalmers, Kent & Stahl
1918: Chalmers, Stahl, Fennemore & Longan
1927: Chalmers, Fennemore & Nairn
1934: Chalmers & Fennemore
1935: Fennemore, Craig, Allen & Bledsoe
1955: Fennemore, Craig, Allen & McClennen
1968: Fennemore, Craig, von Ammon, McClennen & Udall
1969: Fennemore, Craig, von Ammon & Udall
1982: Fennemore, Craig, von Ammon, Udall & Powers
1987: Fennemore Craig
For additional information about Fennemore Craig, please contact Tim Berg at tberg@fclaw.com.
