Anderson O'Brien, LLP, a full-service law firm based in downtown Stevens Point, is celebrating 140 years of continuous legal practice in central Wisconsin. Since 1886, the firm has served individuals, families, and businesses across Portage County and surrounding communities, marking a milestone that places it among the oldest continuously operating law firms in Wisconsin. Few legal practices in the state have maintained uninterrupted service to the same region for more than a century.
The firm's longevity reflects its deep roots in the community. Over 140 years, Anderson O'Brien has represented multiple generations of central Wisconsin families and businesses, building long-term relationships that in some cases span decades. This continuity underscores the firm's role as a community institution in Stevens Point and across central Wisconsin. The firm has maintained its presence in downtown Stevens Point throughout its history, currently operating at 1257 Main Street, not far from the original location at 933A Main Street where brothers Byron B. Park and Gilbert L. Park opened the practice in 1886.
The Park brothers established a collaborative model from the firm's earliest years, a departure from the isolated practice common among attorneys at that time. They built a team-based approach that leveraged the combined knowledge of multiple lawyers to serve clients. The firm also began recruiting and mentoring younger attorneys early in its history, hiring law students as clerks before they entered practice. This tradition of mentorship and collaboration has been sustained over the decades, allowing the firm to adapt to changing legal needs while maintaining its roots.
From a two-attorney office, Anderson O'Brien has grown into a team of 15 attorneys who concentrate in distinct areas of law. Today, the firm provides legal services in personal injury, litigation, business and corporate law, estate planning, elder law, family law, employment law, real estate, tax planning, and workers' compensation. The firm has received AV Preeminent peer-review recognition through Martindale-Hubbell, and individual attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers. Anderson O'Brien's attorneys participate in local organizations, nonprofits, and civic activities throughout central Wisconsin.
For business and community leaders in central Wisconsin, the firm's 140-year history signals stability and deep local expertise. The firm's collaborative approach and broad practice areas mean that clients can access a wide range of legal services from a single, trusted provider. As the legal landscape evolves, Anderson O'Brien's ability to adapt while maintaining its commitment to community service positions it well to serve the next generation of clients. The milestone also highlights the importance of long-term relationships in legal practice, a model that contrasts with the transactional nature of many modern firms.
As it enters its 141st year, Anderson O'Brien, LLP, continues to operate from Stevens Point with the same commitment to collaborative legal representation and community service that defined the firm at its founding. The firm remains focused on serving the next generation of central Wisconsin clients, families, and businesses while adapting to the evolving legal challenges they face. This milestone serves as a reminder of the enduring value of local, relationship-based legal services in an increasingly digital and globalized world.
