Our History

Winning the West

1912: Edward Kent joined the firm after serving on the Territorial Supreme Court and authored the “Kent Decree,” which established water rights for nearly all of the Salt and Verde River systems and still governs water rights in Central Arizona.

1916: Harry Fennemore joined the firm and became known for drafting Arizona’s workmen’s compensation law and sales tax act.

1927: Jubal Early Craig joined the firm. He helped organize the State Bar of Arizona, draft the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and form the Maricopa County Legal Aid Society.

1935: As Fennemore and Craig became named partners, the firm adopted the name Fennemore, Craig, Allen & Bledsoe.

1936: Jubal Craig’s son, Walter Craig, joined the firm.

Water Law and Western Development

1954-1963: Fennemore attorneys played a central role in Arizona’s battle for Colorado River water rights, culminating in the 1963 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. California, that secured the resources essential for Arizona’s long-term growth.

1963: Walter Craig served as special counsel to the Warren Commission, which investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He also served as president of the American Bar Association.

Building Excellence and Inclusion

1974: Fennemore hired its first female attorneys, Ruth McGregor and Toni McClory. McGregor later clerked for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and ultimately became Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court.

Growing National Influence

1980: Firm attorneys Jim Johnson and Jim Bush served as principal drafters of the Arizona Groundwater Management Act, which became foundational to the state’s long-term water sustainability.

1981: Fennemore attorneys assisted Sandra Day O’Connor as she prepared for her confirmation to the United States Supreme Court, where she became the first woman to serve on the Court.

1983–1987: Through a series of mergers, the firm became Fennemore, Craig, von Ammon, Udall & Powers and later shortened its name to Fennemore Craig.

1989: The firm expanded into Tucson. 

Cross-border Practice

1999: Fennemore expanded into Nogales, AZ, strengthening its border practice.

New Western Frontiers

2006: Fennemore expanded its capabilities in Nevada and Colorado by adding attorneys from Morse & Mowbray in Las Vegas and the Dahl firm’s intellectual property group in Denver.

2012: Fennemore added 25 attorneys from Jones Vargas, expanding in Las Vegas and Reno.

2015: The firm added 19 attorneys from Lionel Sawyer & Collins , including Sam Lionel, known as the “Dean of the Nevada Bar,” and former U.S. Senator Richard Bryan, who also served as Governor of Nevada for two terms before serving in the U.S. Senate. 

Change Agents in the C-Suite

Fennemore established its C-Team, a business-focused leadership model aligned with the structure of the firm’s clients. James Goodnow was appointed CEO and formed a C-Suite dedicated to advancing firmwide strategy and operations.

Resilience, Reinvention, and Rebranding

As part of a major brand transformation, the firm rebranded as Fennemore, embracing a forward-looking identity that reflected innovation, new possibilities, and the evolving fabric of attorneys and professionals who had joined the firm. The Orange Dot became the symbol of this new era — representing momentum, connection, and the idea of Doing MORE.

Fennemore combined with Dowling Aaron during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding nearly 100 legal professionals and expanding into Central California.

#1 Fastest-growing

Fennemore was named the fastest-growing Am Law 200 law firm in the United States by Law.com.

August 2021: Fennemore added Reilly LLP, a Denver-based trial firm with national litigation experience.

Golden State Expansion

April 2022: The firm added 50 attorneys and legal professionals and opened offices in San Bernardino and San Diego.

July 2022: Fennemore combined with Wendel Rosen, expanding into Oakland, Walnut Creek, and Modesto.

October 2022: The firm expanded further in Orange County through its combination with Rynn & Janowsky.

Unprecedented Growth

Fennemore posted the single largest year-over-year revenue growth among all firms in The American Lawyer 2023 Am Law 200, growing by 45% in 2022 versus 2021.

October 2023: Fennemore combined with Sullivan McGregor & Doerr in Fresno, expanding its strengths in tax, trusts and estates, agriculture, and water.

Transformative Growth

February 2024: The firm expanded into Seattle through a combination with Savitt Bruce & Willey and added Sullivan Hill in San Diego and WKBKY in Sacramento.

April 2024: Nearly 80 lawyers and legal professionals joined Fennemore’s Denver office from Moye White.

July 2024: Fennemore launched Fennemore Forward, a flexible work platform redefining tech-enabled legal service delivery regardless of geography.

October 2024: The firm expanded into Spokane through Lucent Law and launched Project BlueWave AI, a firmwide initiative to advance legal-technology innovation.

Continued Expansion and Innovation

June 2025: Fennemore combined with BurnsBarton, significantly expanding its Phoenix-based Employment & Labor team. The firm also added four attorneys in the Reno-Tahoe market.

September 2025: The firm expanded into Idaho with offices in Boise and Coeur d’Alene. Fennemore also launched DOT (Dynamic Optimization Technology), its secure AI assistant built as part of Project BlueWave AI.

October 2025: The firm combined with Galvanize Law in Denver, strengthening its construction law capabilities across the Western U.S.

December 2025: Fennemore made its first move into Texas through a combination with San Antonio-based Schmoyer Reinhard LLP, strengthening its Labor & Employment practice.

Shaping What's Next

As Fennemore moves forward, we’re building on our rich history to drive growth and innovation, shaping the business of law and delivering meaningful results for our clients.