Firm History
1948 to present

When William K. Bennett (1919-1998) finished Purdue University and started Indiana University Law School, he hardly expected that war would interrupt his education. But World War II had a way of changing plans, and Bill enlisted in the Navy where he served for the duration of the war. After peace was restored, Bill returned to law school and opened his Lafayette law practice in 1948. Bennett Boehning & Clary traces its origins to that first law office.

By 1954 from his office on the 6th floor of the Lafayette Loan & Trust building, Bill, while continuing to gain respect for his ability, even temperament, and character, began his first term as Lafayette City Attorney.

In the early 60's, Richard A. Boehning, another Indiana native, formed a partnership with Bill Bennett, and “Bennett & Boehning” came into being. However, Dick hardly limited himself to the law office. Soon Dick, while maintaining a full law practice, became a key figure in Indiana House of Representative where he quickly rose to the position of majority leader. Dick also served as Lafayette City Attorney and, under Governor Otis Bowen, Chairman of the State Highway Commission. In addition to his political positions, Dick served as Chairman of the Board of the American Heart Association (national organization) and served the International Society and Federation of Cardiology.

Brent E Clary, who actually tried his first case while a law student and firm intern in 1973, became a partner in 1977. Roger Wm. Bennett, the son of William Bennett, became a partner in the 80’s. James A. Gothard, a well-established Lafayette attorney, joined the firm in the mid-1990s. Andrew S. Gutwein, who worked for the firm during his days at Purdue University, became an Associate to the firm in 1995, as did Stuart P. Boehning, son of Richard Boehning. By the end of the 1990s, the firm had grown to occupy all of the 6th floor and much of the 4th floor of the Lafayette Bank & Trust Building.

On September 21, 1998, in an evening Strategic Planning Session, Bennett Boehning & Clary and Huth Thompson, the City’s largest accounting firm, began plans to co-develop a new building, Columbia Center -- the first major steel-and-concrete building in downtown Lafayette since the Bank One Building (then Purdue National Bank) 30 years earlier. Bill Bennett, still practicing full-time at age 78, took part in that meeting. Later that night an alarming health development led him to the hospital. Eight days later, he passed away, 50½ years after founding the firm and a few years short of seeing three generations of Bennetts practicing at once.

The firm moved to its new home, the west half of the first floor of Columbia Center, in March of 2000, not stopping work for clients even during the move; one partner tried a jury trial to a successful outcome during the move! Located diagonally across the intersection of Fourth and Columbia Streets from the Tippecanoe County Court House, Bennett Boehning & Clary enjoys a prime downtown location, attached to a parking garage for easy access in bad weather or good. The firm offers its clients old-fashioned inclusive legal service using state-of-the-art technology and efficient, competent staffing.

Jason Bennett, son of Roger Bennett and grandson of William Bennett, became an Associate of the firm in 2001. Cara C. Putman and Kyle Mandeville became Associates in 2003, while Stuart Gutwein and Gregory Loyd joined the firm, respectively, in 2005 and 2007. All three bring fresh insights and enthusiasm to this long established law firm. Bennett Boehning & Clary will be serving Lafayette for years to come.

Richard Boehning completed his transition into a well-earned retirement at the end of 2004.

The firm’s major practice areas include Estate Planning and Probate (including Guardianships), Personal Injury, Civil and Commercial litigation, Business Planning and Formation, Commercial Collections, Real Estate conveyances and development, Family Law, Civil and Family Mediation, Criminal Law, and Civil and Criminal Appeals. We are equipped to handle most cases for our clients. We have litigated multi-million dollar commercial and civil cases. We have challenged such abuses as police brutality, illegal governmental secrecy or violations of press and religious rights.