Roland Dierker and Harold Dakin founded the firm in 1934 in Watertown, Wisconsin as a general practice law firm to service clients in Jefferson and Dodge Counties. There was a lull in services provided when both of the principals served overseas in the armed forces in World War II, but the firm reinstituted service in 1945. From that time to the present, the firm has also maintained a satellite office in Sullivan to better serve their clients in the Oconomowoc and Eastern Jefferson County areas.

Robert Bender joined the firm in 1965 after Mr. Dakin retired, and Thomas Levi joined the firm in 1980. Allen Larson joined the firm in 1999.  The firm name changed to Bender, Levi & Larson, S.C.

In 2019, Attorney Julia Chidley was named a partner, and she was joined by Attorney Christopher Koppes in 2020. Their additions, along with the retirement of Thomas Levi, changed the firm’s name to Bender, Larson, Chidley, Koppes & Associates, Attorneys at Law, which continues to provide a high quality of customer service and legal expertise primarily to residents of Jefferson and Dodge Counties.

Our service commitment and legal expertise gained the firm an “AV Preeminent Rating” ℠ from the Martindale-Hubbell legal directory. The award is conferred only upon firms who pass a strenuous peer review process from local attorneys and judges.

Highly Rated By Clients and Colleagues

Bender, Larson, Chidley, Koppes & Associates has achieved the designation as an “AV Preeminent–Rated”℠ firm, which is the highest possible rating given under the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, whose peer review system has been relied upon for authoritative information on the worldwide legal profession for over 100 years. The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory considers a law firm’s legal abilities and professional ethics, and reflects the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary.

Our AV rating tells you that our firm has reached the height of professional excellence, indicating that we not only have a great deal of experience, but that we are recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity. We are only one of two such law firms designated with this rating in Jefferson and Dodge Counties.

*CV, BV and AV are registered service certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.