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Dorsey & Whitney company history timeline

1912

The firm began as a two-man office in Minneapolis in 1912.

1929

In 1929 the firm then known as Junell, Dorsey, Oakley & Driscoll, headed by John Junell, James E. Dorsey, Robert S. Oakley, and Robert Driscoll, had 11 lawyers.

1940

In 1940 the firm's growing insurance practice included being special or local counsel to Equitable Life Assurance Society, New York Life Insurance Company, The Great-West Life Assurance Company, and four other insurance companies or departments.

1945

New clients added by 1945 included Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood; Pittsburgh Coal Company; the Minnesota Group Investment Bankers Association of America; and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

1965

By 1965 it had almost doubled in size to have 59 lawyers under the name of Dorsey, Owen, Marquart, Windhorst & West.

1984

In 1984 name partner Arthur B. Whitney, Jr., retired after about 40 years at the firm.

1988

In 1988 the firm had represented Grand Metropolitan when it made a bid to acquire Pillsbury.

1988: The firm gains a Washington, D.C. office through a merger.

1990

By 1990 the firm also added new offices in Missoula and London.

1997

In 2000 its annual profits per partner increased 17.5 percent from 1999 to reach $370,000. Based on its 1997 gross revenues of $148.5 million, it was ranked as number 58 in the United States.

1998

With a strong American economy humming along, in 1998 Dorsey & Whitney discussed a merger with Seattle's Bogle & Gates.

1999

The American Lawyer ranked the firm number 56 for its 1999 gross revenues of $201.5 million.

2000

Gross Billings: $254 million (2000 est.)

2001

Dorsey & Whitney was one of the few big law firms that in 2001 increased its number of completed mergers and acquisitions.

2001: The Billings office is closed; the Shanghai office is opened.

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1912
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Dorsey & Whitney history FAQs

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Dorsey & Whitney may also be known as or be related to Dorsey & Whitney, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Dorsey & Whitney Llp, THE DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION and The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation.