The acclaimed local law firm marks 125 years in business
TROY, N.Y. - Airplanes, radios, traffic lights: what do these inventions have in common? All three were invented during the last 125 years, meaning Troy-based law firm E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP predates them.
Celebrating the major milestone of 125 years in business is no small accomplishment, and the firm will spend the rest of 2023 acknowledging its storied past and giving back to the community that it has called home for more than a century.
A law firm of distinction and excellence, E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy was established in Troy in 1898 by Abbott Jones, whose career went on to include positions as the City of Troy attorney, City of Troy judge and district attorney. Abbott Jones passed on the firm to E. Stewart Jones, Sr., who then handed the reins to his son E. Stewart Jones, who currently leads the business.
125 years comprise a long roster of successful case outcomes in the firm’s books. Landmark wins throughout its history include: a record-breaking verdict of $10,000 in the 1930’s; the highly publicized acquittal of Jack “Legs” Diamond, a prominent gangster and bootlegger; the first successful medical malpractice case outside of New York City in the 1950’s; a personal injury case against Chrysler in the 1970’s that resulted in a record-breaking verdict on behalf of the plaintiff; the first million dollar verdicts in multiple counties; in addition to many more precedent-setting and high-profile civil and criminal cases throughout the 20th century and today.
“The common thread throughout 125 years of business is our steadfast commitment to securing results for people who need them,” said E. Stewart Jones, Jr. partner and third-generation lawyer at E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP. “For me, this isn’t just a business, it’s my family legacy. That’s what drives everything I do, whether in the courtroom or in the community.”
In 2015, E. Stewart Jones Law Firm PLLC merged with Hacker Murphy LLP, bringing James Hacker on as managing partner and expanding the firm’s practice areas and service offerings in addition to its team. The merger added a group of talented attorneys, as well as a location in Schenectady that supplemented the Jones firm’s existing offices in Troy, Albany and Saratoga.
“I am very proud to be part of an exceptional law firm with 125 years of history in the Capital Region. I am confident that E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy’s commitment to the community and the clients we serve will ensure its longevity for years to come,” said Hacker.
To celebrate this incredible achievement, E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy will be releasing historical content and memorabilia on its website throughout the year in addition to partnering with Albany Law School to support the next generation of lawyers by sponsoring a prize for the school’s Senior Prize Trials.
An annual legal competition among third-year students, the Senior Prize Trials are a time-honored tradition to provide graduating law students with a simulated courtroom experience. Beginning in 2024, E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy will award the winners of the Senior Prize Trials $2,000 annually for the next five years.
The firm has been awarded distinctions including U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms, America’s Top 100 Attorneys, and members who have been elected to the most exclusive law organizations, including the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers, American Board of Criminal Lawyers, The Inner Circle of Advocates and more. Most recently, E. Stewart Jones, Jr. was voted the 2023 Times Union Best of the Capital Region coveted award for Best Lawyer.
About E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP:
Founded in 1898, E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP (ESJHM) is one of the most experienced and trusted personal injury, criminal defense and commercial litigation firms in New York State. Our highly skilled team of lawyers and legal professionals truly care about the individuals and families they represent, the causes they undertake and the outcomes they achieve. At ESJHM, we are fully invested in our clients and their success.
The firm has offices in Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs and Albany, NY and specializes in auto accidents, medical malpractice, construction accidents, general negligence, defective products, wrongful death, felonies and misdemeanors, and all types of commercial litigation.