Hopkins & Sutter
| Company type | Law firm |
|---|---|
| Industry | Legal services |
| Founded | 1921 |
| Founder | Albert Hopkins, Harry Sutter |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Fate | Merged with Foley & Lardner |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | United States |
Number of employees | 130 (at merger) |
Hopkins & Sutter was a law firm headquartered in Chicago that operated from 1921 until its 2000 consolidation with the Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner.
History
The firm was established by Albert Hopkins and Harry Sutter, combining Hopkins' background with the Interstate Commerce Commission and an early IRS predecessor, with Sutter's experience as tax counsel for New York's Guaranty Trust Company. By 1923, the firm had broadened its reach by opening an office in Washington, D.C., while also maintaining operations in Detroit. Its primary areas of expertise included tax law, insurance, public policy, and transportation finance.
Merger
To enhance its strategic position, Hopkins & Sutter acquired the lobbying and public affairs firm Leonard, Ralston, Sutter & Remington in 1997. The subsequent merger in 2000 with Foley & Lardner brought all 130 attorneys under the larger national firm’s umbrella, although a number of partners departed in the years that followed.
Notable attorneys
- Samuel K. Skinner, who served as U.S. Secretary of Transportation and White House Chief of Staff
- Barack Obama, who worked as a summer associate in 1990
- Jerris Leonard, former Wisconsin legislator and lobbyist