History of Bewley, Lassleben & Miller

Bewley, Lassleben & Miller was founded in 1888 in the City of Los Angeles by Madison T. Owens. Owens practiced law in Los Angeles for twelve years, where he also served as a police judge and was a charter member of the Jonathan Club. He relocated to Whittier in 1900, serving as City Attorney, and partnered with local attorney Jefferson G. Wingert until his death in 1929. Owens was also active in the California National Guard where he rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

Thomas W. Bewley joined the firm in 1927 as a newly minted member of the bar. The firm continued through the Great Depression as Wingert & Bewley, until becoming Wingert Bewley & Nixon in 1939, when joined by future President Richard M. Nixon (a partner until 1952).

Tom Bewley practiced law through the early 1980’s, and regaled many of our present partners with stories of practicing law in the early 20th century. William M. Lassleben became a partner of the firm in 1952 and was a founder and general counsel to Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, which remains a major client of the firm to this date.

Edward L. Miller joined the firm in 1962 after graduating first in his class at USC Law School. Mr. Miller assumed management responsibility in the late 1960’s and in the ensuing years saw to the growth of the firm from four to twelve attorneys including all of the present partners. With the firm’s growth and maturation, Bewley, Lassleben & Miller has expanded its horizons to encompass a wide array of specialties described elsewhere in this web site. Past and present, Bewley, Lassleben & Miller is dedicated to offering excellent legal services to its clientele, with practical, cost-effective solutions to your complex legal problems.