The roots of Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP extend back to March 1, 1912, when noted Philadelphia lawyers Owen J. Roberts, William W. ("W.W.") Montgomery, Jr., and Charles J. McKeehan founded Roberts, Montgomery & McKeehan in the West End Trust Building on Broad Street just below City Hall. A few years later the firm would move around the corner to the Morris Building at 1421 Chestnut Street, where it would remain for the next 55 years. In 1971 the firm's Philadelphia office moved to Three Benjamin Franklin Parkway, where it remained until 1996, when the firm moved to its present offices in the Wachovia Building (long known as the Fidelity Building) on the Avenue of the Arts.
Roberts, the most widely known of the three founders, would later achieve national prominence, ultimately serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1930 to 1945. A brief biography of Roberts' many contributions to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the nation is attached.
In 1923 McKeehan was appointed to the federal bench, and the firm became Roberts & Montgomery. When Roberts left the firm to assume his position as Associate Justice in 1930, the name of the firm changed once again, with partner Robert T. McCracken's name added, to become Montgomery & McCracken. Several years thereafter the names of Robert C. Walker and C. Brewster Rhoads were added to the firm's name, and it has remained so until today.
As the size and scope of the firm's practice has grown, it has added offices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Berwyn and West Chester, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware.
Over the years, Montgomery, McCracken lawyers have served their profession and communities in numerous activities and positions. The firm is proud that it has produced:
- a Justice of the United States Supreme Court,
- two Judges of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania,
- a Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court who first served as a Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey,
- two Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County,
- a General Counsel to the United States Air Force who later served as Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,
- a Chairman of the American Bar Association's Section on Taxation,
- a Chairman of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary,
- a President of the Hispanic National Bar Association,
- three Presidents of the Pennsylvania Bar Association,
- six Chancellors of the Philadelphia Bar Association,
- a Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Bar Association,
- three Chairs of the Young Lawyers Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association,
- Chairs of numerous committees of the Philadelphia Bar Association,
- Chairs of several committees of the Camden and Burlington County Bar Associations,
- a President of the Chester County Bar Association,
- Several Secretaries and Treasurers of the Chester County Bar Association,
- three Chairs of the Chester County Bar Association's Family Law Section,
- Chairs of numerous committees of the Chester County Bar Association,
- a President of the Chester County Bar Foundation,
- a Regent and numerous Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers,
- members of the American Law Institute,
- the Austrian Consul-General and the British, French and Danish Consuls in Philadelphia,
- Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, including four life Trustees, and Trustees of other colleges and universities,
- the first Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania Museum,
- five Presidents of the University of Pennsylvania Law Alumni Society,
- a President of the Philadelphia Museum of Art,
- a President of the Academy of Music,
- a Chairman of the Opera Company of Philadelphia,
- two Chairmen of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children,
- a Vice Chairman of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital,
and many others who have served their profession and their communities tirelessly and with distinction.