Alfred W. Benson founded the law firm in 1870.
November 13, 2019
FINCH COVINGTON BOYD CELEBRATES 150TH YEAR WITH NAME CHANGE.
Finch, Covington & Boyd, Chartered announced today it will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a name change that draws on the law firm’s longstanding community history. The firm’s new name - Harris Kelsey, Chartered - reflects on the firm’s historical partners. In conjunction with the name change, the firm has developed a new logo and launched a new website at www.harriskelsey.com.
“2020 is an important year for our firm,” said Blaine Finch, owner and president of the firm. “It will mark our 150th year as a law firm serving the people of Ottawa, Franklin County and Kansas. We wanted to return to our roots and honor the founders of our firm, celebrate their dedication to their clients and the profession, and create a brand that our community can continue to rely on for decades to come.”
The Firm’s History. The firm was started in 1870 by Alfred W. Benson who served the community as a lawyer, Ottawa’s Mayor, County Attorney, a state legislator, district court judge and eventually as a Kansas Supreme Court Justice. In 1898 Benson brought in Fred M. Harris who helped move the firm to the building on the corner of Second and Main Street where it still operates today. Harris led the firm for 52 years and served in the state legislature while maintaining his practice in Ottawa. In 1931, Harris hired Basil “Bas” Kelsey and the firm became known as Harris & Kelsey.
The two practiced together for nearly 20 years until Harris’ death in 1950. In 1957, Kelsey brought in a young attorney named Winton “Wint” Winter and they practiced together a short time until Kelsey’s passing in 1960. Winter eventually hired Robert W. “Bob” Green in 1968 before Winter left the firm to take over People’s Bank. Green led the firm for over 40 years. He partnered with Thomas Sachse until he took the bench as a district court judge and later partnered with Blaine Finch, who serves as managing partner today.
“For a firm to have 150 years of continuous operation through just six generations of partners is incredible,” said Green. “It is a testament to the commitment to the firm’s clients and a dedication to get it right for the people who have come to us for help.”
The Firm Today. The firm has won the Ottawa Herald’s Best of the Best Award the last three years and seen its practice grow over the last decade with the addition of John A. Boyd, one of the region’s premier criminal defense attorneys, and BreAnne Poe who has developed a focused practice in the area of family and child custody law. Finch serves as Speaker Pro Tem of the Kansas House of Representatives and balances his public service role like many of his predecessors while serving clients in fields of municipal law, contract law, real estate, estate planning and probate law. He also serves as city attorney for the City of Ottawa.
“While our name is changing, our focus - delivering the highest quality legal representation and best possible service to our clients - remains the same,” Finch said. “We have been here for a century and a half and we look forward to serving our clients for the next 150 years.”