History

1860

William R. Bagley was born. It was Bagley who formed the firm Bagley & Reed, which eventually evolved into what is today known as DeWitt Ross & Stevens.

1883

Bagley is invited by the Madison-based company, Fuller & Johnson, which sold farm machinery in Iowa, to join its legal department.

Bagley is admitted to practice law in Iowa.

1881

An accomplished raconteur and fine looking gentleman of dignified bearing, Bagley was designated master of ceremonies when W.D. Hoard was inaugurated as governor of Wisconsin.

1889

1903

Bagley opens his own practice and is joined by Frank Reed to form the firm Bagley & Reed.

1930

Bagley, Spohn, Ross & Stevens. Myron Stevens becomes a partner.

1944

Spohn, Ross, Stevens & Lamb. Will Spohn's son James & Frank Ross' son Hugh join the firm.

1927

Bagley, Spohn & Ross. Frank Reed retired and William Spohn and Frank Ross join the firm. Myron Stevens, the son of Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice E. Ray Stevens, also joins the firm as an associate.

1949

Norman C. Herro and Robert "Bud" Buehner started the firm of Herro & Buehner, which would later become the DeWitt Porter firm, that eventually merges with Ross & Stevens.

1960

Spohn, Ross, Stevens & Pick

1956

Immell, Herro, Buehner & DeWitt. Jack DeWitt and Adjutant General Ralph M. Immell joined Herro & Buehner. All four partners had distinguished military careers. DeWitt was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart for action in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge. Herro also served 3 years as an Air Force Captain during WWII.

1965

Ross, Stevens, Pick & Spohn

1958

Spohn, Ross, Stevens, Lamb & Pick. Another of Ross' sons, Frank Jr., joins the firm.

1969

Herro, McAndrews & Porter. The Immell firm orchestrated a three way merger with Porter & Porter and McAndrews, Pellino & Huggett.

DeWitt, McAndrews & Porter. Herro left to venture into the financial services industry.

1961

Immell, Herro, Buehner, DeWitt & Sundby

1994

The principals of DeWitt Porter and Ross & Stevens merge. The merger creates DeWitt Ross & Stevens. Both predecessors had solid business, real estate and litigation practices. Ross & Stevens brought expertise in employee benefits and intellectual property law, and DeWitt Porter brought environmental law and lobbying practices.

1995

DeWitt Ross & Stevens

1990

DeWitt Porter

1986

DeWitt, Porter, Huggett, Schumacher & Morgan

1983

DeWitt, Sundby, Huggett, Schumacher & Morgan

1980

DeWitt, Sundby, Huggett & Schumacher

1979

DeWitt, McAndrews & Sundby

1975

Ross & Stevens

1973

DeWitt, McAndrews & Porter

1970

Ross, Stevens, Pick & Ross

2003

DeWitt Ross & Stevens expanded into the Metro Milwaukee market by merging with two firms, Swartzberg & Duggan and Frazer & Schapiro.

2007

DeWitt Ross & Stevens continues to build its strength with the merger of a small, local Madison firm, Hayes, Van Camp & Schwartz.