Lane & Waterman is one of the oldest law firms west of the Mississippi River. It began as a two-person venture, when in 1854 A. Abner Davison and David S. True formed a partnership to practice law in what was then the budding frontier town of Davenport.

The firm became known as Lane & Waterman in 1902, when Justice Charles M. Waterman left the Iowa Supreme Court to join firm partner Joe R. Lane. Both men were respected community leaders. Lane was the son of James T. Lane, who had become a law partner of A. Abner Davison with the death of David S. True. Lane served as a regent of the University of Iowa, a member of the Davenport City Council, and as a one-term Republican U.S. Representative. Waterman served as Davenport city attorney and as a Scott County District Court judge before becoming an Iowa Supreme Court Justice.

Lane & Waterman has grown and changed to meet the demands of modern clients, including improvements to processes and technology. Today, the firm serves thousands of clients throughout the region and the country.

Clients, after all, are the reason for the firm’s growth. To keep up with the pace of growth, the firm has always been committed to:

• Ongoing education
• Hiring top talent
• Community involvement

While continuing legal education is a requirement to practice law, Lane & Waterman attorneys go above and beyond by encouraging and supporting lawyers to present on legal topics to further sharpen their knowledge and give back to the legal profession. In 2019, 11 attorneys gave over 40 hours of presentations.

Finding the best and brightest new attorneys from the region’s law schools has always been a priority for the firm. This fall, Lane & Waterman will interview and select next year’s summer associates. The summer associate program is a comprehensive dive into the firm, with the expectation that these young lawyers will become firm partners and share in the firm’s commitment to doing the best work for clients.

A culture of giving back began at Lane & Waterman at its inception and continues today. Community involvement is not only important to the firm as a whole, but also to the individual attorneys who donate their time and talents to many valuable legal and charitable causes. Many speak at legal seminars, participate in fundraisers, and serve as board members of legal and community organizations. Lane & Waterman attorneys collectively serve over 30 nonprofit organizations in the Quad Cities.

“We have been fortunate to grow in a community as it grows –seeing the changes and celebrating the wins alongside our clients,” Bob Waterman shared. “We wouldn’t be here if not for them, and how we operate is a true reflection of what our clients need and expect. We don’t take that lightly.”