FIRM HISTORY
FIRM HISTORY
The Firm was founded by Francis S. Bradford (1863-1931) in 1908. Attorney Bradford had moved to Appleton with his mother in 1879, following the death of his father. He attended Lawrence University and passed the bar exam in 1887. He opened his own law practice in 1908. He was the first president of the Appleton Rotary and was a founding board member for the Appleton Public Library. Attorney Bradford had two sons, Francis Jr. and Alfred.
Francis S. Bradford Jr. (1898-1961) studied law at Lawrence University, but left to enlist in the Army at the start of World War I. Returning from the war, he pursued his interest in art in New York, eventually gaining national recognition. He was hired to paint the murals in the old Outagamie County Courthouse (now the Outagamie County Administration Building), which show the founding of the county. He was also hired to paint 24 murals for the Milwaukee Courthouse.
The other son of Francis S. Bradford, Sr. was Alfred S. Bradford (1897-1973). Alfred was a graduate of Appleton High School and attended Lawrence University. Like his brother, he enlisted in the Army during World War I. Returning from war, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1921 and went into practice with his father. The Firm changed its name to Bradford & Bradford Co.
Another prominent member of the Firm was Stanley R. Gabert (1915-2010), who was born in Sturgeon Bay. He was a member of the Navy during World War II. He received his B.A. from UW-Madison and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He was later joined in the Firm by Thomas Williams after his graduation from Harvard Law School in 1974.
Through the years, the Firm has added many other lawyers and wonderful support staff but has remained focused on serving the needs of the local community with high-quality legal service.
Portion of “Justice” in Milwaukee Courthouse by Francis S. Bradford, Jr.
A Trusted Law Firm for Over 100 Years
What is known today as Gabert, Williams, Konz & Lawrynk LLC in Appleton, WI, was started by a local lawyer at the beginning of the 20th century named Francis S. Bradford. While the name of the firm has changed and been represented by different attorneys over the years, we remain committed to our founder’s mission of providing trusted legal services in various matters.
Francis S. Bradford Sr.
Francis S. Bradford (1863-1931) founded the law firm in Appleton, WI in 1908. He came to Appleton in 1879 with his mother following the death of his father. He attended Lawrence University and passed the bar exam in 1887. In 1908, attorney Bradford opened his own law practice, committed to delivering high-quality legal services to area residents. He was an active member of the community, becoming the first president of the Appleton Rotary, and was a founding board member for the Appleton Public Library. Attorney Bradford had two sons, Francis Jr. and Alfred.
Francis S. Bradford Jr.
Francis S. Bradford Jr. (1898-1961) studied law at Lawrence University like his father but left to enlist in the Army at the start of World War I. Returning from the war, he pursued his interest in art in New York, eventually gaining national recognition. He was hired to paint the murals in the old Outagamie County Courthouse in Wisconsin (now the Outagamie County Administration Building), which depicts the founding of the county. Francis Jr. was also hired to paint 24 murals for the Milwaukee Courthouse.
Alfred S. Bradford
Bradford’s other son, Alfred S. Bradford (1897-1973), was a graduate of Appleton High School and attended Lawrence University. Like his brother, he enlisted in the Army during World War I. Returning from war, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1921 and went into practice with his father. At that time, the firm changed its name to Bradford & Bradford Co.
Portion of “Justice” in Milwaukee Courthouse by Francis S. Bradford, Jr.
Expansion of the Family Law Firm
Francis Bradford and his son Alfred weren’t the only trusted attorneys at the law firm. Stanley R. Gabert (1915-2010) was another prominent member of the law firm. Gabert was born in Sturgeon Bay and was a member of the Navy during World War II. He received his B.A. from UW-Madison and earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. After Francis Sr.’s passing in 1931 and Alfred’s in 1973, Gabert was joined at the firm by Thomas Williams after he graduated from Harvard Law School in 1974.
Local Lawyers You Can Depend On
Through the years, our firm has added many other lawyers and a wonderful support staff. However, what hasn’t changed is the focus on serving the needs of the local community with honest, compassionate, and experienced legal services covering a wide range of topics. We want to be your law firm of choice for any matter in which you need legal assistance.