The History of Meshbesher & Spence

Then in the mid-1960s, the newly founded firm cemented their place in downtown Minneapolis lore with the building of their iconic building at 1616 Park Avenue. With its distinctive curved walls and large round-topped windows, the building has stood as the firm’s headquarters since 1966 and served as a focal point of its growth. Then in the late 1960’s Russ Spence who originally began work as a firm investigator, finished law school and joined the firm full-time as a practicing lawyer.

New Faces and Continued Success

In the early 1970s the firm Robins, Meshbesher, & Kirshbaum was incorporated as Meshbesher, Singer, & Spence, Ltd. when Micky Robins moved to California to practice entertainment law, Joel Kirshbaum moved to Arizona, and Gerald Singer – a childhood friend of Ron Meshbesher – joined the practice as a business and family lawyer.

The firm’s reputation then soared in the 1970s as Ron Meshbesher represented defendants in numerous high-profile cases such as the Elizabeth Congdon murder case and the Piper kidnapping case, greatly expanding the firm’s presence and recognition. As the firm’s reputation grew, so did its practice areas, expanding to include criminal defense, business litigation, and personal injury, its commitment to providing exceptional legal representation remained steadfast. Then, in the 1980’s with lawyer advertising now in the clear the firm adopted its trademark “The Lawyer You Choose Makes a Difference” which is still known and used today. 

The Arrival of Meshbesher & Spence

The arrival of 1990 saw the retirement of Gerald Singer, leading to the Meshbesher & Spence name as we know it today. By then, the firm had expanded its personal injury practice, including a focus on medical malpractice as well as mass tort litigation, grown to over 20 attorneys, and held offices in numerous cities including St. Paul, St. Cloud, Rochester, Plymouth, St. Louis Park, Maplewood, and Woodbury at different times in addition to its main office at 1616 Park Avenue.

The 1990’s also saw the torch passed forward again, with the retirement of esteemed partners Russ Spence and Ken Meshbesher after decades of trial success for their clients. Entering the new millennium, Meshbesher & Spence reaffirmed its dedication to personal injury and criminal defense, while phasing out business litigation and general litigation. Later, in 2021 the firm added workers’ compensation and PERA/MSRS disability to better round out our successful personal injury practice.

Our Present and Future Commitment

Today, Meshbesher & Spence boasts a team of 25 attorneys across offices in Minneapolis, Rochester, and St. Cloud, continuing the tradition of hard work and compassionate advocacy established by Ron Meshbesher and his partners over 60 years ago. 

As Meshbesher & Spence looks to the future, its commitment to excellence and its clients’ well-being remains steadfast, ensuring that the legacy of legal advocacy continues for generations to come.

We pride ourselves on being available when you need us. If you need to speak with us at any time, please do not hesitate to call or email for immediate assistance. We are available 24/7, nights and weekends. We look forward to assisting you. Meshbesher & Spence: The Lawyer You Choose Makes a Difference®.