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Dinse, Knapp and McAndrew office building in downtown Burlington, VT

Our Firm

Welcome to Dinse

Building a nationally recognized presence on the shores of Lake Champlain.

Dinse>Our Firm

Overview

Welcome to Dinse, a law firm based in Burlington, VT, serving businesses, institutions and individuals. Our attorneys’ exemplary work, which is recognized annually by Chambers & Partners and Best Lawyers, is driven by a core set of values that place a premium on integrity, respect, and compassion in our relationships and our work. This dedication to superior legal service sets us apart from other law firms because it extends beyond rhetoric and informs our actions in real life, measurably impacting each clients’ experience.

Our strength is our people. Our firm is comprised of a dynamic group of accomplished individuals who apply their unique passions and deep expertise to client challenges daily. When you hire Dinse, you don’t just hire one lawyer; you hire an integrated team, committed to your success. This is one of the reasons that we have successfully served as a long-term legal advisor to a variety of institutions with complex and varied legal needs; one of these such relationships extends back to the 1950s.

From the emphasis we place on building trusting, collaborative relationships to our pragmatic approach to developing tailored legal solutions to each challenge, we are dedicated to exceeding expectations.

 
FEATURED ATTORNEY

Nancy K. de Tarnowsky

CONCENTRATION

Estate Planning, Trust Administration, Probate Administration

"Providing first-rate client service is very important to me, and I pride myself on building lasting, trusting relationships."

Read More About Private: Nancy K. de Tarnowsky >
FEATURED ATTORNEY

Kendall Hoechst

CONCENTRATION

Civil Litigation

"I take a collaborative approach to achieving the best possible outcome for my clients."

Read More About Kendall Hoechst >
FEATURED ATTORNEY

Andy MacIlwaine

CONCENTRATION

Civil Litigation

"I use my courtroom experience and understanding of the business and operational needs of my clients to find creative solutions and achieve positive outcomes."

Read More About Andy MacIlwaine >
FEATURED ATTORNEY

Mark A. Langan

CONCENTRATION

Estate Planning and Business Succession, Estate Administration, Trust and Estate Litigation, Tax Planning

"I have been in practice since 1981 and continue to strive for excellence and professionalism in all aspects of my work."

Read More About Mark A. Langan >

History

In 1917, our office was opened in Burlington, VT, near the shores of Lake Champlain. Warren R. Austin, the firm’s founding attorney, became one of Vermont’s most prominent trial lawyers, a United States Senator, and was the first United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He set a standard for excellence that carried our firm through the following decades as it grew from two attorneys in 1922 to 30 attorneys today. Our rich history includes many of Vermont’s most distinguished lawyers who grew to prominence in their respective practice areas and became meaningful contributors to the Vermont philanthropic, business and higher education communities. We have led the pack in prioritizing the involvement and leadership of women and value diversity highly in our staff and our clients.

Throughout our firm’s history, our reputation for exemplary client service and world-class representation has held true. We look forward to many more years of dedicated practice, service and partnership.

  • 1917-1922
    Law Office of Warren R. Austin
  • 1922-1952
    Austin & Edmunds
  • 1952-1961
    Edmunds, Austin & Wick
  • 1961-1970
    Wick, Dinse & Allen
  • 1970-1984
    Dinse, Allen & Erdmann
  • 1984-1996
    Dinse, Erdmann, & Knapp
  • 1996-1997
    Dinse, Erdmann, Knapp, & McAndrew
  • 1997-2018
    Dinse, Knapp, & McAndrew
  • 2018
    Dinse
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Culture

Our commitment to respect and collaboration doesn’t only apply to our client relationships – it’s also an important part of the way we work together as colleagues. Stop by our office during lunchtime and you’ll see partners, paralegals, and everyone in between sitting together at one long table. From what we’ve heard of other firms, this non-hierarchical approach to firm culture makes us unique. We feel that it’s one more thing for us to be proud of.

Here are some attributes that describe our culture:

  • Thoughtful
  • Curious
  • Responsive
  • Connected
  • Passionate
  • Hard-Working
  • Nimble
  • Good-Humored
  • Open

Community Commitment

We believe that our responsibility to do good work extends beyond our office walls, and this value permeates our office culture. As a firm, we are proud to run a successful corporate fundraising campaign each year for the United Way, an initiative that our whole firm rallies enthusiastically behind. Our internal Committee for Social Responsibility helps ensure our firm’s positive environmental and social impact; as a result of their efforts, our office is solar powered, composts organic waste, and we make contributions to some 50 community sponsorships each year. In addition, many of our attorneys hold board leadership positions with organizations throughout the state. We deeply believe in the important roles that our professionals play outside the office and encourage their participation in broader community conversations.

Pro Bono

 

As skilled attorneys, we value the opportunity to offer pro bono assistance to those who need it. Each attorney at our firm approaches pro bono work individually, finding and pursuing the causes that are meaningful to them. As a firm, we participate in a pro bono landlord tenant program in which we represent tenants facing eviction, an urgent and important effort we are proud to contribute to.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA)

Dinse looks to uphold the same positive values within our firm as we do in the broader community. Our commitment to this goal is exemplified by the work of our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee. Additionally, we support businesses and nonprofit organizations that share our guiding principles. We strive to ensure that our commitment to diversity and inclusion is felt by employees and clients in their interactions at Dinse.

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