After Almost 60 Years, Martin & Churchill Closed its Operations

Martin & Churchill, a Kansas-based law firm with areas of practices in health care, commercial litigation and workers’ compensation, closed its operation after almost 60 years in the legal industry. The firm officially ceased its operations on December 31, 2010. The closure has been the talk of the industry over the past few months until Martin & Churchill pulled the plug and closed down its offices. The law firm’s closure paved way to the separation of its six attorneys who are now setting up their individual law firms while others have joined rival firms.

Michael Kennalley, a commercial litigation attorney and former partner at Martin & Churchill for 12 years, said that the firm’s closure has been in the works recently. “It has been something that has been discussed over a period of time. It’s basically people wanting to do other things. It’s a friendly parting of the ways.” Kennalley joined Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, a premiere US aw firm with over 300 lawyers, on December 2010.

Don Hill, Martin & Churchill’s President, noted that Martin & Churchill’s closure was a tough decision given its vast achievements and established reputation in the legal sector since 1951. “We came to a time in our practices where we felt like, for the long term, it was best for our attorneys that we continue our practices at other firms.” Hill is now part of a smaller firm, Adams Jones Law Firm PA. Hill, who has been with Martin & Churchill for about 34 years, added “It’s a little bit more fluid with a smaller organization.”