DINSE, KNAPP & MCANDREW
A SHORT HISTORY
December 2006
Law office of Warren R. Austin 1917-1922
In 1917, Warren R. Austin opened a law practice in Burlington. He later became one of Vermont’s most prominent trial lawyers, a United States Senator, and the first United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Born in Highgate Center in 1877, Austin graduated from the University of Vermont in 1899, studied law with his father in St. Albans, and was admitted to the Vermont bar in 1902, without ever attending law school. He worked in his father’s St. Albans practice for a number of years, while serving as Franklin County State’s Attorney from 1904-1906 and Mayor of St. Albans in 1908. In 1916, he worked in China as an attorney for American International Corp in railway construction and financing projects. On his return in 1917, he opened his own practice in Burlington, which marked the origin of this firm. Austin was 40 years old.
Austin & Edmunds 1922-1952
William H. Edmunds joined Austin’s firm in 1922, after graduating from Harvard Law School earlier that year. Born in Bangor, Maine in 1896, Edmunds grew up in Bristol, Vermont, and graduated from Middlebury College in 1914. Later in 1922, Austin and Edmunds tried the infamous Woodhouse case in Chittenden Superior Court, gaining national attention. The case involved a claim of alienation of affections by Dorrit Woodhouse against the wealthy parents of her husband, who was trying to divorce her in Reno, Nevada, after a short-lived marriage. The case resulted in a verdict of $465,000, a national record for such cases at the time. It solidified Austin’s reputation as a skilled litigator, and some time thereafter, the firm name was changed to Austin & Edmunds. In 1931, Austin was elected to the United States Senate, where he served until 1946, when he was named as first United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Upon his election, Edmunds assumed the firm’s leadership, but the firm retained its name. The “Austin” name thereafter referred to the founder’s son, Warren R. Austin, Jr., who had joined the practice in 1924. There were only two lawyers in the firm at the time.
Edmunds, Austin & Wick 1952-1961
Hilton A. Wick joined the firm in 1950 after graduation from Harvard Law School, and the firm changed its name to Edmunds, Austin & Wick in 1952. The firm then had five lawyers: the three named partners, as well as John Dinse, who joined the firm shortly after Wick in 1950, after graduating form Cornell Law School, and Fred Allen, who joined a year later in 1951 after graduating from Boston University Law School.
Wick, Dinse & Allen 1961-1970
William Edmunds died in 1961 at age 66, after a notable career as a leading trial and business lawyer. He had also served a term as President of the Vermont Bar Association. Upon Edmunds death, Austin, Jr. became “counsel” to the firm, which was renamed Wick, Dinse & Allen. The named partners were the only three lawyers in the firm at the time. In 1962, one year after Edmunds death, Warren Austin, the firm’s founder, also died at age 85. His distinguished career as a leading trial lawyer, a three-term United States Senator and an international statesman in the United Nations during its infancy, had earned him a cover story in the February 1951 edition of Time magazine. Upon Warren’s death, the Burlington Free Press hailed him as “the outstanding champion of the free world”, based upon his years of distinguished service in the United Nations.
Dinse, Allen & Erdmann 1970-1984
The firms’ name changed to Dinse, Allen & Erdmann in 1970, following Hilton Wick’s departure to become President of Chittenden Trust Company, a long-time client. Until his death in March 2006, Wick was one of the most prominent philanthropists and community leaders in Vermont. Upon his departure from the firm, Wick was named “counsel”, a title which he held until 1979. Robert Erdmann had joined the firm in 1963. At the time, the firm had 5 lawyers.
Dinse, Erdmann & Clapp 1984-1996
In 1984, Fred Allen, one of the most respected trial lawyers in Vermont, was named Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, requiring another firm name change – to Dinse, Erdmann & Clapp. It had 13 lawyers at the time.
In 1993, John Dinse retired after a distinguished career as a prominent defense lawyer, a valued college adviser, and a skilled trust and estate counsel. His career also included terms as President of the Vermont Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute. John Dinse was Managing Partner for 23 years, and upon his retirement was named “counsel.” Spencer Knapp was elected Managing Partner. He had joined the firm in 1976 after graduating from Cornell Law School and serving as a law clerk to United States District Judge, Albert W. Coffrin.
Dinse, Erdmann, Knapp & McAndrew 1996-1997
In February, 1996, the firm was again renamed: Dinse, Erdmann, Knapp & McAndrew. Karen McAndrew had originally joined the firm in 1970, after graduating from Boston University Law School and serving as law clerk for James Oakes in the United States District Court and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. After leaving the firm for several years to serve as an Assistant U.S Attorney, she rejoined in 1985. In 1996, the firm had 23 lawyers.
Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew 1997-
When Robert Erdmann retired from the firm in 1997, the firm was renamed Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew. In September 2006, partner Sam Hoar was elected President of the Vermont Bar Association, the sixth member of the firm to hold that office over its 90 year history. In 2007, the firm has 28 lawyers.
A SHORT HISTORY
December 2006
Law office of Warren R. Austin 1917-1922
In 1917, Warren R. Austin opened a law practice in Burlington. He later became one of Vermont’s most prominent trial lawyers, a United States Senator, and the first United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Born in Highgate Center in 1877, Austin graduated from the University of Vermont in 1899, studied law with his father in St. Albans, and was admitted to the Vermont bar in 1902, without ever attending law school. He worked in his father’s St. Albans practice for a number of years, while serving as Franklin County State’s Attorney from 1904-1906 and Mayor of St. Albans in 1908. In 1916, he worked in China as an attorney for American International Corp in railway construction and financing projects. On his return in 1917, he opened his own practice in Burlington, which marked the origin of this firm. Austin was 40 years old.
Austin & Edmunds 1922-1952
William H. Edmunds joined Austin’s firm in 1922, after graduating from Harvard Law School earlier that year. Born in Bangor, Maine in 1896, Edmunds grew up in Bristol, Vermont, and graduated from Middlebury College in 1914. Later in 1922, Austin and Edmunds tried the infamous Woodhouse case in Chittenden Superior Court, gaining national attention. The case involved a claim of alienation of affections by Dorrit Woodhouse against the wealthy parents of her husband, who was trying to divorce her in Reno, Nevada, after a short-lived marriage. The case resulted in a verdict of $465,000, a national record for such cases at the time. It solidified Austin’s reputation as a skilled litigator, and some time thereafter, the firm name was changed to Austin & Edmunds. In 1931, Austin was elected to the United States Senate, where he served until 1946, when he was named as first United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Upon his election, Edmunds assumed the firm’s leadership, but the firm retained its name. The “Austin” name thereafter referred to the founder’s son, Warren R. Austin, Jr., who had joined the practice in 1924. There were only two lawyers in the firm at the time.
Edmunds, Austin & Wick 1952-1961
Hilton A. Wick joined the firm in 1950 after graduation from Harvard Law School, and the firm changed its name to Edmunds, Austin & Wick in 1952. The firm then had five lawyers: the three named partners, as well as John Dinse, who joined the firm shortly after Wick in 1950, after graduating form Cornell Law School, and Fred Allen, who joined a year later in 1951 after graduating from Boston University Law School.
Wick, Dinse & Allen 1961-1970
William Edmunds died in 1961 at age 66, after a notable career as a leading trial and business lawyer. He had also served a term as President of the Vermont Bar Association. Upon Edmunds death, Austin, Jr. became “counsel” to the firm, which was renamed Wick, Dinse & Allen. The named partners were the only three lawyers in the firm at the time. In 1962, one year after Edmunds death, Warren Austin, the firm’s founder, also died at age 85. His distinguished career as a leading trial lawyer, a three-term United States Senator and an international statesman in the United Nations during its infancy, had earned him a cover story in the February 1951 edition of Time magazine. Upon Warren’s death, the Burlington Free Press hailed him as “the outstanding champion of the free world”, based upon his years of distinguished service in the United Nations.
Dinse, Allen & Erdmann 1970-1984
The firms’ name changed to Dinse, Allen & Erdmann in 1970, following Hilton Wick’s departure to become President of Chittenden Trust Company, a long-time client. Until his death in March 2006, Wick was one of the most prominent philanthropists and community leaders in Vermont. Upon his departure from the firm, Wick was named “counsel”, a title which he held until 1979. Robert Erdmann had joined the firm in 1963. At the time, the firm had 5 lawyers.
Dinse, Erdmann & Clapp 1984-1996
In 1984, Fred Allen, one of the most respected trial lawyers in Vermont, was named Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, requiring another firm name change – to Dinse, Erdmann & Clapp. It had 13 lawyers at the time.
In 1993, John Dinse retired after a distinguished career as a prominent defense lawyer, a valued college adviser, and a skilled trust and estate counsel. His career also included terms as President of the Vermont Bar Association and the Defense Research Institute. John Dinse was Managing Partner for 23 years, and upon his retirement was named “counsel.” Spencer Knapp was elected Managing Partner. He had joined the firm in 1976 after graduating from Cornell Law School and serving as a law clerk to United States District Judge, Albert W. Coffrin.
Dinse, Erdmann, Knapp & McAndrew 1996-1997
In February, 1996, the firm was again renamed: Dinse, Erdmann, Knapp & McAndrew. Karen McAndrew had originally joined the firm in 1970, after graduating from Boston University Law School and serving as law clerk for James Oakes in the United States District Court and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. After leaving the firm for several years to serve as an Assistant U.S Attorney, she rejoined in 1985. In 1996, the firm had 23 lawyers.
Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew 1997-
When Robert Erdmann retired from the firm in 1997, the firm was renamed Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew. In September 2006, partner Sam Hoar was elected President of the Vermont Bar Association, the sixth member of the firm to hold that office over its 90 year history. In 2007, the firm has 28 lawyers.