Paul W. Pretzel, Class of 1926

Founder of the law firm Pretzel & Stouffer

After graduating from Chicago-Kent in 1926, Paul W. Pretzel practiced with the firm of Melville, Walker and Block and would later become a named partner in the firm. He helped launch Pretzel & Stouffer in 1947 as a founding partner, and retired in 1971. When he established the firm, he did so with the focus of attracting and developing lawyers with the courage, poise and passion needed to advocate on behalf of a client in the public forum of a courtroom, an appellate court or a regulatory commission. Pretzel & Stouffer specializes in insurance defense, fire, marine, casualty and life insurance law, as well as trial practice.  During his 44 years in practice, Paul W. Pretzel was considered one of the city’s leading civil trial lawyers. He passed in 1987.