A History of Giving Back

Some historical perspective about CCHA is helpful to understanding the depth of our firm’s commitment to the communities we serve. In 1880, Joseph A. Roberts began his practice of law in Noblesville, the county seat of Hamilton County, about the time the natural gas boom was helping to enrich the 5,000 or so residents of the area. As Noblesville and Hamilton County grew, so did CCHA. In the early 1900s, Roger Roberts and Justin Roberts joined their father in his practice, with primary concentrations in real estate, probate, and estate law. Justin was the Hamilton County prosecutor during the trial of the infamous D.C. Stephenson, a leading member of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s, and assisted the Marion County prosecutor during that trial. The criminal conviction of Stephenson has been widely regarded as the beginning of the end of the Ku Klux Klan’s influence in Indiana.

In 1952, the modern era of the firm began with the arrival of Manson Church. A World War II veteran, Manson represented a new generation in the community and, shortly after his arrival, he was asked to serve as school board attorney and city attorney. Manson also contributed to many community organizations throughout his illustrious career, including the First United Methodist Church in Noblesville, where he served on various boards, the Noblesville Elks Club and the American Legion.

Later, in the 1970s, our name partners, Doug Church, Jack Hittle, and Mike Antrim, joined the firm and carried the torch of service, as CCHA continued to develop special and unique practice areas to better serve clients and increase its influence and presence in the community. Students of Manson’s leadership, Doug, Jack, and Mike understood that providing excellent legal service was only part of what made a good lawyer – they also wanted to create a workplace where people commit to making a positive difference in their communities. Whether providing legal guidance through pro bono work; service on charitable, educational and non-profit boards; making charitable contributions; or participating in charity events, the core CCHA principle of “being good” guides us in everything we do.

Below is a list of some of the many organizations we have worked and partnered with over the past few years. We hope this list continues to grow, along with our ongoing commitment to better serve you and our communities.

From the Roberts’ foundation and the quiet leadership of Manson, to the example set by Doug, Jack, and Mike today, we at CCHA do not simply talk about community involvement – we see it as a guiding principle in our work and our lives.