Civil War stories
Venable Baetjer's history begins at the turn of the twentieth century, when Major Venable, a Civil War Veteran arrived in Baltimore with a letter of introduction from General Robert E. Lee and a burning desire to practice law. Today, the firm boasts an extensive Mid-Atlantic presence, and legal expertise in over 25 areas. In September 1999, the firm grew once again when Venable merged with Washington DC's Tucker Flyer. With the deal, Venable's attorney roster grew to over 350.
Basking in DC growth
Though a fixture of Baltimore life, Venable has benefited greatly from the high-tech growth in the Washington DC and Northern Virginia area. Commentators have observed that in the late seventies, Venable was essentially a Baltimore firm, with strengths in litigation and labor.
To keep business growing, Venable headed to that legal mecca: Washington DC. Led by the head of the DOJ during the Carter administration, Venable's Washington branch grew slowly at first. However, the firm managed to successfully tailor its practice to the burgeoning high tech work originating throughout the DC/Metroplex area. For example, the firm represented Sun Microsystems in an appeal of a $250 million Army contract that went to competitors. "We're able to talk to the engineers," one partner told The Baltimore Sun, adding: "We understand the technical issues and how the technology works, and we're able to translate that into some basic principles."
