Tucker Arensberg Celebrates 100 Years

The year was 1900.

President McKinley had just acquired the island of Hawaii as a U.S. territory; a man named Freud was stirring up the populace with a book called The Interpretation of Dreams; Eastman Kodak Company's $1 Brownie camera introduced the masses to the snapshot; and a concept known as dribbling was introduced into the sport of basketball.

In the booming industrial town of Pittsburgh, partners Thomas Patterson, Ross Sterrett, and Mark Acheson founded a new law firm. Housed in downtown Pittsburgh's Frick Building -- along with fellow tenant Henry Clay Frick himself -- Patterson, Sterrett & Acheson began to build a business that would provide diligent and expert legal services to its clients throughout the 20th century and into the new millennium.

The Early Years: 1900-1950

Early clients of the fledgling law firm included the Pennsylvania Railroad and the First National Bank (now called PNC Bank and still a client). In 1911, Harvard Law School graduate Charles F. C. Arensberg joined the practice. By the late '30s, the business -- then Patterson, Crawford, Arensberg & Dunn -- had reached two more milestones. Richard B. Tucker Jr., future partner and firm namesake, came on board, and Ella Graubart joined the forward-thinking firm as its first female attorney.

During this period of growth and development, clients included Peoples-Pittsburgh Trust Co., The Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania, United Engineering Co., Coca-Cola Company, and the University of Pittsburgh.

In the spirit of racial and gender equality that would come to distinguish the firm, Charles F. C. Arensberg established a policy allowing African-Americans to join the bar. "It seems incredible now that they have been excluded from membership," Arensberg writes in a 1956 account of his career, titled "From My Time at the Bar." As president of both the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Arensberg used his influence to affect positive change and advance issues of social justice.

Building a Strong Foundation: 1951-Present

Throughout the second half of the century, the firm stayed true to its founding principles, but continued to encourage progressive thinking. It was also in this time period that the practice emerged as a true family effort. Richard Tucker became a partner in 1955, and his son, Richard Tucker III, joined the firm in 1976. Arensberg's sons Charles and Jim had joined forces with their father back in the late '30s and early '40s, but came to embrace his commitment to bettering the region and the lives of those in need even more deeply.

"Dick Tucker was a guiding force for many of us," says Gary Hunt, managing shareholder of Tucker Arensberg. "His legal prowess, his admirable professional ethics, his strong personal values -- these were qualities to which we all aspired."

In 1982, the firm earned its present name, Tucker Arensberg, P.C. As the '80s progressed, the firm experienced great growth, opening branch offices in Moon Township, Greensburg, and Harrisburg, Pa.

Today, Tucker Arensberg employs 70 attorneys and 20 paralegals practicing in three main departments: Business and Finance, Litigation,  and Insolvency and Creditors' Rights.

Tucker Arensberg approached the turn of the century, 100 years strong, invigorated, and ready for the challenges of the new millennium. "We have achieved this significant milestone in our firm's history thanks to the strength of our client relationships," says Charles J. Vater, board member. "We put the needs of our clients first at Tucker." Hunt agrees: "As Tucker Arensberg celebrates its 100th anniversary, the groundwork is being laid for yet another century of superior client service."

Tucker Arensberg Looks to the Future

Tucker Arensberg's rich history of service to the region's business community is the foundation upon which its second century is being built.

"Tucker Arensberg thrives on challenge and has a 100-year history of succeeding in a competitive environment," says Gary Hunt. "As we move forward, we will continue to respond to the changing and accelerating needs of our clients with new technology, new ideas and a continuing commitment to responsive, high-quality client service. We partner with our clients to develop a strong understanding of what their businesses are, how they work, what challenges they face and how they are adapting to new ways of doing business in the global marketplace. Our goal is always to create practical, effective solutions to our clients' legal problems in the most efficient manner possible, so that they can spend their time growing their businesses."

Keeping Pace

Businesses today are faced with increasing competition, driven by changing technology and a global marketplace.

As Tucker Arensberg's clients have grown, expanded and prospered, the firm has grown with them. "We strive to attract and retain the best possible lawyers, paralegals and support staff in order to meet our clients' evolving needs," Hunt says.

Through ongoing staff development initiatives and major capital investments in new technology, Tucker Arensberg keeps pace with rapidly changing technology. "We constantly explore new ways of delivering service to our clients," Hunt explains. "This enables us to provide practical, effective solutions to our clients' legal problems in the most efficient manner possible."

Building Momentum Toward the Future

As part of its Centennial Celebration, Tucker Arensberg embraced several new initiatives. To celebrate and honor the memory of Richard B. Tucker, Jr., Esq., one of the cornerstones of the firm, Tucker Arensberg has introduced the annual Richard B. Tucker Jr. Award of Distinction. The award was issued to Attorney Garland H. McAdoo based upon established criteria and an internal nomination process. The award included a donation by the law firm to the charity of the Mr. McAdoo's choice. "Mr. Tucker epitomized the ideals of client service and professional and vigorous legal representation. He was well-known throughout the region as a superb lawyer who made substantial contributions to the community, to his church and to the legal profession. He was the quintessential gentleman; he set an example for all Tucker Arensberg lawyers every day that he practiced," Hunt says. "His ideals still drive the firm as we enter the 21st century."

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