Hinshaw Celebrates the Firm's 90th Anniversary

September 20, 2024

On September 1, 1934, our founders—Joseph "Joe" Hinshaw and James Culbertson—opened the doors to their first office in Chicago, Illinois.

On the 90th anniversary of Hinshaw & Culbertson’s founding, we proudly celebrate the generations of talented lawyers and professional staff who fostered our collegial culture, unwavering commitment to excellent client service, and ethical approach to the practice of law—the cornerstones of our success.

From those humble beginnings nine decades ago, Hinshaw has grown into a national law firm, offering legal services and solutions tailored to the unique needs of each client we serve. We have expanded to 25 offices in 16 U.S. states and provide counsel to a range of industries, including aviation and aerospace, energy and environment, financial services, healthcare, insurance, life, health and disability, manufacturing, real estate, construction, and transportation.

"Our firm’s commitment to client service, entrepreneurship, creativity, diversity, and integrity makes Hinshaw a wonderful place to do business and build a career," said Peter Sullivan, firm chairman. "I’m incredibly proud of the work we do for our many clients daily and of our reputation as a principled and dependable legal advisor."

Promoting opportunity and inclusion is part of the fabric of Hinshaw culture. In the 1950s, Hinshaw hired Violet Benedeck as the firm’s first female attorney after the FBI under Director J. Edgar Hoover had offered her a job as a secretary, even though she already had a law degree. Today, you can see evidence of our commitment to diversifying the talent pipeline in many ways, including our multi-year Mansfield Rule certification and our Management Committee, the highest governing body, which is over 55 percent diverse.

Our 90 years as a firm are testimony to the confidence our clients have placed in us to address their legal needs. As a business, we remain committed to adapting to change and taking advantage of new technologies and opportunities, and we look forward to further growth.

Media Coverage

The POLITICO: Illinois Playbook covered the firm's anniversary in its September 23, 2024 edition. The Playbook subsequently published a correction in its September 24, 2024 edition.












Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a U.S.-based law firm with offices nationwide. The firm's national reputation spans the insurance industry, the financial services sector, professional services, and other highly regulated industries. Hinshaw provides holistic legal solutions—from litigation and dispute resolution, and business advisory and transactional services, to regulatory compliance—for clients of all sizes. Visit www.hinshawlaw.com for more information and follow @Hinshaw on LinkedIn and X.