THE HISTORY OF PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP
The roots of Pansing Hogan Ernst & Buser LLP run deep. PHEB and its progeny may be traced back to before the turn of the century, when Frank Homer Gaines, followed the advice of Horace Greely and headed west across the Missouri River from his home in Adair County, Iowa. Since 1894, Gaines & many others have practiced law under a shingle in Omaha. The following is the evolution of today’s firm from the time Frank Gaines moved to Omaha in January of 1894:
THE EVOLUTION OF PANSING HOGAN ERNST & BACHMAN LLP
1894 to 1895 | Frank H. Gaines, Esq. |
1895 to 1899 | Meikle & Gaines |
1899 to 1900 | Duffie, Gaines & Kelby |
1900 to 1901 | Duffie, Gaines, Kelby & Storey |
1901 to 1905 | Gaines, Kelby & Storey |
1905 to 1908 | McGilton & Gaines |
1908 to 1919 | McGilton, Gaines & Smith |
1919 to 1920 | Gaines & Van Orsdel |
1920 to 1922 | Gaines, Ziegler, Van Orsdel & Gaines |
1922 to 1928 | Gaines, Van Orsdel & Gaines |
1928 to 1930 | Gaines, McGilton, Van Orsdel & Gaines |
1930 to 1934 | Gaines, McGilton, McLaughlin & Gaines |
1934 to 1939 | Gaines, McLaughlin & Gaines |
1939 to 1943 | Gaines, McLaughlin & Shoemaker |
1943 to 1947 | Gaines & Shoemaker |
1947 to 1952 | Gaines, Shoemaker & Crawford |
1952 to 1953 | Gaines & Crawford |
1953 to 1956 | Gaines, Spittler & Gaines |
1956 to 1957 | Gaines, Spittler & Moore |
1957 to 1972 | Gaines, Spittler, Neely, Otis & Moore |
1972 to 1975 | Gaines, Spittler & Otis |
1975 to 1978 | Gaines, Spittler, Otis, Mullen & Carta |
1978 to 1981 | Gaines, Otis, Mullen & Carta |
1981 to 1985 | Gaines, Otis, Haggart, Mullen & Carta |
1985 to 1986 | Gaines, Otis, Mullen & Carta |
1986 to 1989 | Gaines, Mullen, Pansing, Hogan & Cotton |
1989 to 2000 | Gaines, Mullen, Pansing & Hogan |
2000 to 2004 | Gaines, Pansing & Hogan |
2004 to Aug 2023 | Pansing Hogan Ernst & Bachman LLP |
Aug 2023 to Present | Pansing Hogan Ernst & Buser LLP |
OUR FOUNDER
Frank Gaines was born in Victoria, Knox County, Illinois, on April 8, 1863, the son of Homer and Martha (Boyer) Gaines. His father was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1838, and as a youth moved to Illinois, of which his wife was a native. He served as a second lieutenant in an Illinois regiment of infantry during the Civil War. These parents in 1912 established their home in Omaha.
Frank H. Gaines was educated in public schools in Knox County, Illinois, attended Knox College at Galesburg, graduated Bachelor of Science in 1884, and studied law in the Hastings College of Law at San Francisco, California. In 1889, he was admitted after examination before the Supreme Court of Iowa, and began the active practice of his profession at Greenfield, Iowa, becoming associated with Judge Storey of that city, the firm name being Storey & Gaines. Within sixty days after his admission to the bar, Frank Gaines was nominated for the office of County Attorney of Adair County, and was elected, serving two terms from 1890 to 1894.
In January of 1894, Frank Gaines moved to Omaha and began the practice of law in the New York Life Building at 16th and Farnam Streets. In October of 1895, he formed a law partnership with James B. Meikle under the firm name of Meikle & Gaines. Frank Gaines continued to practice law in the Omaha area until his death in November of 1937.
HISTORY OF SERVICE TO THE OMAHA BAR ASSOCIATION
PHEB and its predecessors have a long history of service to the Omaha Bar Association. The following is a list of the past presidents of the Omaha Bar Association who are or have at one time been affiliated with the firm
1918 | E. G. McGilton |
1932-33 | Charles F. McLaughlin |
1940-41 | Francis S. Gaines |
1945-46 | Victor E. Spittler |
1961 | Robert D. Mullin |
1972 | Howard H. Moldenhauer |
1975-76 | Harry B. Otis |
1981-82 | Tyler B. Gaines |