A Century of Counsel: Barnes & Thornburg's
South Bend Legacy Turns 100
Some businesses measure success in years. Barnes & Thornburg measures it in generations.
In 2026, the firm's South Bend office celebrates its 100th anniversary, a milestone that reflects not only remarkable longevity but also a century of helping shape the legal, business and civic landscape of the South Bend Region. What began in 1926 as a small local law partnership has grown into the founding office of one of the nation's largest law firms, while remaining deeply rooted in the community where it all began.
The story starts on January 1, 1926, when former South Bend Mayor Eli F. Seebirt, Judge Lenn J. Oare and George W. Omacht established the firm of Seebirt, Oare & Omacht. According to the firm's historical records, the partnership was built more on trust and shared values than formal agreements, beginning with little more than a handshake and a common vision.
That vision centered on strong advocacy, professionalism, integrity and public service—principles that continue to define the firm's culture today. At a time when the legal profession was far less structured than it is now, the founders set out to build a practice that would stand the test of time while serving the growing needs of businesses and individuals throughout northern Indiana.
Over the decades, the office evolved alongside the region itself. In its early years, the firm’s practice focused on a combination of trial work, business law, probate, collections, banking-related matters and corporate work. The firm represented clients such as Bendix, the South Bend Tribune, First Bank and Trust Company of South Bend, South Bend Toy Company and other local historical businesses.
As South Bend's economy diversified, so did the firm's capabilities. By mid-century, the practice expanded into emerging specialties including labor law, tax planning, employee benefits and other sophisticated legal services that positioned the firm ahead of changing client needs.
In 1965, the South Bend firm merged with an established practice in Elkhart, extending the firm’s footprint across northern Indiana, creating a more geographically and economically diverse practice. The new firm’s name became Thornburg, McGill, Deahl, Harman, Carey & Murray.
One of the defining moments in the firm's history came in 1982 when South Bend-based Thornburg, McGill, Deahl, Harman, Carey & Murray merged with Indianapolis firm Barnes, Hickam, Pantzer & Boyd to create Barnes & Thornburg. The merger combined the strengths of two respected Indiana firms, expanding resources and client service capabilities while laying the foundation for national growth. For the South Bend office, it marked the beginning of a new era—one that connected its longstanding northern Indiana relationships with a broader statewide and eventually national platform.
Ironically, while many people associate Barnes & Thornburg with Indianapolis, South Bend holds a unique distinction: it is the firm's oldest office. The Indianapolis office opened in 1940, making South Bend the original home of what has become one of America's largest law firms.
Today, the South Bend office provides clients with experience across corporate law, litigation, labor and employment, banking, intellectual property, real estate, public finance and other specialized practice areas, reflecting both the complexity of modern business and the firm's commitment to anticipating what's next.
Growth has never meant leaving its hometown behind.
From its original offices in the First Bank Building on Jefferson Boulevard to its longtime location in the 1st Source Bank Center and, most recently, its 2020 move to 201 S. Main Street in downtown South Bend, the firm has maintained an unwavering commitment to the city's core.
That commitment was especially evident when Barnes & Thornburg invested in its modern, current office, choosing to remain in the heart of South Bend rather than relocate elsewhere. Firm leaders viewed the decision as both an investment in their employees and clients and a vote of confidence in downtown's continued revitalization.
Barnes & Thornburg occupies three of the five floors in the building, which marked the city’s first new office building in downtown in 20 years while the move aligned with broader efforts to strengthen downtown by bringing new activity, businesses and investment to the city center. At the time, city leaders pointed to the project as an example of the type of long-term private investment helping reshape South Bend's future.
Throughout its history, Barnes & Thornburg has been more than legal counsel for businesses—it has been an active partner in the region's growth. Its attorneys have represented manufacturers, banks, utilities, healthcare organizations, educational institutions and businesses that have helped define the South Bend economy for years.
Beyond its legal work, Barnes & Thornburg has long been a committed community partner in South Bend, supporting local organizations through leadership, teaching, service and philanthropic investment. Over the decades, the firm has contributed to institutions such as the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Notre Dame Law School, LOGAN Community Resources, and the History Museum of South Bend, while also supporting major regional initiatives and capital campaigns, including Beacon Memorial Health Tower, Cultivate Food Rescue, the Potawatomi Zoo, and the Morris Performing Arts Center. Through these efforts, Barnes & Thornburg has helped advance the civic, cultural and economic vitality of the South Bend region.
The firm's ties to the South Bend Regional Chamber stretch back more than a century. Seebirt served as Chamber president in 1924, followed by Deahl in 1942. Today, Office Managing Partner Tim Emerick continues that tradition through service on the Chamber's Board of Directors, underscoring the firm's longstanding commitment to regional business leadership.
Now numbering more than 850 attorneys and legal professionals across 26 offices nationwide, Barnes & Thornburg has grown into one of the country's largest law firms. Yet the South Bend office remains central to that story. More than 65 attorneys and legal professionals across the South Bend and Elkhart offices continue serving clients with the same collaborative culture and client-first philosophy that have defined the practice for a century.
As Barnes & Thornburg celebrates 100 years in South Bend, its greatest achievement may not simply be its longevity, but rather the firms’ rare ability to honor its history while continuing to evolve. In an ever-changing business landscape, Barnes & Thornburg remains a trusted advisor to generations of clients, a community advocate and business partner standing ready to help clients achieve their highest goals. Deeply rooted in South Bend, Barnes & Thornburg continues to build on that legacy while looking firmly forward toward the future.
Emerick sums it up best. “We’re proud of our firm’s history but even more energized by what lies ahead. As South Bend continues to grow and develop, Barnes & Thornburg is prepared to help clients and the community seize new opportunities and shape the future together.”