Dinse

Welcome to Dinse, a law firm based in Burlington, VT, serving businesses, institutions and individuals. Our attorneys' exemplary work, which is recognized annually by Chambers & Partners and Best Lawyers, is driven by a core set of values that place a premium on integrity, respect, and compassion in our relationships and our work. This dedication to superior legal service sets us apart from other law firms because it extends beyond rhetoric and informs our actions in real life, measurably impacting each clients' experience.

Our strength is our people. Our firm is comprised of a dynamic group of accomplished individuals who apply their unique passions and deep expertise to client challenges daily. When you hire Dinse, you don't just hire one lawyer; you hire an integrated team, committed to your success. This is one of the reasons that we have successfully served as a long-term legal advisor to a variety of institutions with complex and varied legal needs; one of these such relationships extends back to the 1950's.

From the emphasis we place on building trusting, collaborative relationships to our pragmatic approach to developing tailored legal solutions to each challenge, we are dedicated to exceeding expectations.

FEATURED ATTORNEY
Andy MacIlwaine
CONCENTRATION

Civil Litigation

"I use my courtroom experience and understanding of the business and operational needs of my clients to find creative solutions and achieve positive outcomes."
Read More About Andy MacIlwaine >
History

In 1917, our office was opened in Burlington, VT, near the shores of Lake Champlain. Warren R. Austin, the firm's founding attorney, became one of Vermont's most prominent trial lawyers, a United States Senator, and was the first United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He set a standard for excellence that carried our firm through the following decades as it grew from two attorneys in 1922 to 30 attorneys today. Our rich history includes many of Vermont's most distinguished lawyers who grew to prominence in their respective practice areas and became meaningful contributors to the Vermont philanthropic, business and higher education communities. We have led the pack in prioritizing the involvement and leadership of women and value diversity highly in our staff and our clients.

Throughout our firm's history, our reputation for exemplary client service and world-class representation has held true. We look forward to many more years of dedicated practice, service and partnership.

1917-1922
Law Office of Warren R. Austin
1922-1952
Austin & Edmunds
1952-1961
Edmunds, Austin & Wick
1961-1970
Wick, Dinse & Allen
1970-1984
Dinse, Allen & Erdmann
1984-1996
Dinse, Erdmann, & Clapp
1996-1997
Dinse, Erdmann, Clapp, & McAndrew
1997-2018
Dinse, Knapp, & McAndrew
2018
Dinse



Culture

Our commitment to respect and collaboration doesn't only apply to our client relationships ? it's also an important part of the way we work together as colleagues. Stop by our office during lunchtime and you'll see partners, paralegals, and everyone in between sitting together at one long table. From what we've heard of other firms, this non-hierarchical approach to firm culture makes us unique. We feel that it's one more thing for us to be proud of.

Here are some attributes that describe our culture:

Thoughtful
Curious
Responsive
Connected
Passionate
Hard-Working
Nimble
Good-Humored
Open

Community Commitment

We believe that our responsibility to do good work extends beyond our office walls, and this value permeates our office culture. As a firm, we are proud to run a successful corporate fundraising campaign each year for the United Way, an initiative that our whole firm rallies enthusiastically behind. Our internal Committee for Social Responsibility helps ensure our firm's positive environmental and social impact; as a result of their efforts, our office is solar powered, composts organic waste, and we make contributions to some 50 community sponsorships each year. In addition, many of our attorneys hold board leadership positions with organizations throughout the state. We deeply believe in the important roles that our professionals play outside the office and encourage their participation in broader community conversations.
Pro Bono

We value the opportunity that we have as skilled attorneys to offer pro bono assistance to those that need it. Each attorney at our firm approaches pro bono work individually, finding and pursuing the causes that are meaningful to them. As a firm, we participate in a pro bono landlord tenant program in which we represent tenants facing eviction, an urgent and important effort we are proud to contribute to.

Locations	No. of Attorneys
Burlington, VT	32

Practice Areas	No. of Attorneys
Corporate	1
Corporate - General	9
Corporate - Securities and Capital Markets	2
Education	1
Environmental and Land Use	2
ERISA/Executive Compensation	1
Family Law	1
Health Care	4
Immigration	2
Insurance Coverage	1
IP	2
Labor & Employment	2
Litigation	2
Litigation - Medical Malpractice	2
Other	2
Real Estate	4
Tax	1
Trusts and Estates	8