1900
Riling, Burkhead & Nitcher, Chtd.
This law firm was founded in 1900 by Edward T. Riling, the year he graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law and, incidentally, became a member of the Kansas State Legislature. Edward T. also served Douglas County as its County Attorney; he was said to be a vigorous prosecutor. In 1910, Edward T.’s younger brother, John J. Riling, joined him in the practice of law and became known as a tireless advocate of his clients and a true student of the law. Known as “Mr. John,” he was highly regarded by the lawyers against whom he tried cases and similarly respected by the judges before whom he appeared.
The Riling brothers came off the farm, and out of this heritage they developed a clientele made up of farmers, as well as laborers, shopkeepers and other small business owners in the community. Over the years, the firm remained small and declined opportunities to represent large businesses in favor of serving the working men and women of Douglas Co., Kan. For a time, Edward T.’s son was a member of the firm, before he retired from the practice following Mr. John’s death. In 1956, Mr. John’s son, Eugene C. Riling, joined the law firm. He was followed into the practice by the first non–family member, M. Dean Burkhead, in the 1960s.
In 1978, Wesley M. Norwood and Robert W. Fairchild merged their practice into the firm. Wes left the firm in 1989 to become a solo practitioner. Bob left in 1996 to become a District Court Judge. In 1981, Michael E. Riling joined his father in the practice of law, just as Gene had joined his father a generation earlier. When John W. Nitcher joined the firm in 1987, there were six attorneys in the firm, with James L. Postma, of counsel. Lori Heasty came aboard in 1995.
In September 1994, the firm became the provider law firm for Pre–Paid Legal Services, Inc., for the entire state of Kansas. At that time, there were 2,111 members. That number has now grown to some 11,400 Pre–Paid Legal members across the entire state.
Today, as a full-service firm, Riling, Burkhead and Nitcher continues into its second hundred years, committed to serving the needs of its clients. As Douglas County has grown in population, many of the firm’s clients have acquired or started small businesses; they have legal needs that arise out of working and living in this economically diverse and dynamic region. From all across the state of Kansas, our Pre-paid Legal members are requesting legal services to help them establish small businesses and protect hard-earned investments.
The firm stands ready and able to continue to serve our clients both here and across the state.
Step Sponsored By: Riling, Burkhead & Nitcher, Chartered