History

Carl A. Sorling (1896-1991), the founder of Sorling, Northrup, Hanna, Cullen & Cochran, came to Springfield from Chicago in 1925 to handle legal affairs for the Marine Bank of Springfield, a prosperous and well established central Illinois banking institution. It did not take long for Mr. Sorling, a World War I veteran and graduate of the University of Michigan, to establish himself as a significant presence in the Springfield business and social community. In the early 1930s, while continuing his relationship with the Marine Bank, Mr. Sorling began his private practice of law. As his practice prospered, he eventually joined with two other established Springfield lawyers, B. Lacey Catron (1912-1959) and John Hardin (1909-1978) to form Sorling, Catron & Hardin in 1944.

Following the Second World War, Sorling, Catron & Hardin grew and prospered along with the Springfield community. Philip E. Hanna joined the firm in 1945; Charles H. Northrup in 1946; George W. Cullen (1917-1986) in 1950; and Thomas L. Cochran (1916-1994) in 1956. The growth of the firm also allowed individual lawyers to concentrate their practices in particular areas, a trend that had developed among practitioners across the country. Philip Hanna concentrated in tax and estate work. Charles Northrup concentrated his practice in real estate and zoning law. George Cullen was a trial attorney, and Thomas Cochran concentrated on corporate and transactional matters. Such concentration in a particular field of law allowed these attorneys to provide exceptional service to their clients. As a result, Sorling, Catron & Hardin became synonymous with quality legal service in Springfield.

The 1960s and 1970s witnessed the continued growth and prosperity of Sorling, Catron & Hardin with the addition of highly skilled lawyers and staff. In 1975, the firm’s name was changed to reflect the then partners: Sorling, Northrup, Hanna, Cullen & Cochran.

Since 1975, Sorling, Northrup, Hanna, Cullen & Cochran, oftentimes simply referred to as “Sorling” or the “Sorling Law Firm,” has grown to meet the needs of an increasingly sophisticated clientele. Over the years the firm has grown in size, geographic diversity and experience to handle the most complex matters for its clients. Founded in 1944 as a three-man private practice, Sorling now employs more than 50 attorneys, paralegals, and support staff, making it one of the largest downstate Illinois law firms. In geographical terms, Sorling is located where it first opened its doors in the “Illinois Building,” a 1931 high rise overlooking Illinois’ old state capitol in downtown Springfield. In addition, its geographical base has grown as the firm has partnered with other central Illinois law firms, most notably Woods and Bates in Lincoln, Illinois, and in 2005 the firm opened an office in Peoria, Illinois. This regional and statewide presence reflects Sorling’s ability to service its rapidly growing statewide and national clientele with respect to those clients’ broad interests in downstate Illinois. Finally, as the firm retains its core legal service business in such areas as tax, estate planning, family law, business and personal injury litigation, and business transactions, it has also grown to match the needs of its clients in such increasingly complex legal areas as health care, government lobbying, and representing individuals and organizations before numerous state regulatory agencies.

Today, Sorling comprehensively serves the needs of thousands of individuals and organizations across Illinois. The main office’s central location and presence in the state capital make it possible for the firm to serve clients from Cairo to Chicago, Danville to Quincy. Though the firm has changed markedly since the early days of Carl Sorling, Lacey Catron, and John Hardin, its essential goals remain the same – prompt, quality and careful attention to the legal needs of the firm’s valued clients, both personal and corporate.