Kentucky-based Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC Marks 120th Year

LEXINGTON (March 3, 2017)—In 1897, a young man from Kentucky left New Haven, Connecticut with a law degree from Yale and the notion that he'd practice in his hometown.

He opened a modest office in downtown Lexington. Before the year ended, he was representing one of the largest banks in the Bluegrass.

Today, 120 years later, the largest law firm in Lexington still bears Richard Stoll's name, serves clients from five offices in three states, and continues to represent the descendant bank of Stoll's first client.

"By all accounts, Dick Stoll was a remarkable citizen, public servant and attorney whose impact remains visible and tangible today, nearly 70 years after his death," said William M. Lear Jr., SKO's chairman emeritus and former managing director.

Among Stoll's career highlights:

Fifty years of service on the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, longer than anyone in UK history Served as a Fayette Circuit County Judge for a decade, with his decisions rarely reversed on appeal Began representation of Lexington Utility Company (now Kentucky Utilities Company) in 1909 and Lexington Water Company (now Kentucky American Water Company) in 1922, two of SKO's current clients With his law partners, developed the organization that is now the Keeneland Association in 1935, creating a racetrack and sales company which is now the world's leading thoroughbred auction company Stoll also is credited with selecting the shade of blue that has defined Big Blue Nation since 1891, simply by wearing a blue neck tie.

"Although his early practice focused on the businesses on the commercial landscape at the time, Dick Stoll was building the foundation that formed the basis of SKO's practice today," Lear said. "He was committed to professionalism, civility, diligence and the public good, values that continue to drive our firm."

From serving those core industries of Stoll's daybanking, utilities, transportation and equinekey areas of law began to emerge. Financial restructuring, corporate governance, succession planning, and land use grew into practice areas. As client needs evolved, venture capital, labor and employment, and intellectual property...