For 120 years, Crowe Dunlevy has provided comprehensive legal services to clients ranging from individuals to Fortune 500 companies across the nation and the world. With offices in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Dallas and Houston, the firm offers counsel in nearly 30 practice areas. Our clients benefit from high quality, efficient solutions at reasonable costs and enjoy access to attorneys with in-depth experience who provide a comprehensive approach to their legal needs.
Crowe Dunlevy began when Charles Edward Johnson (1870-1950) opened the first law office in the Oklahoma Territory at 131 ½ West Grand (now Sheridan Avenue). The Westin Hotel stands at this location today. “Olie” Johnson was an emigrant from Sweden who graduated from the University of Texas Law School (LL.B., 1901).
The first law partnership in the Oklahoma Territory started when Albert P. Crockett (1871-1918) joined “Olie” Johnson in the practice of law.
The firm moved to larger quarters at 129 West Grand.
The firm made its next move to Oklahoma City’s first “skyscraper,” the six-story Lee Building at the northeast corner of Main and Robinson.
The firm name became Burwell, Crockett & Johnson when Benjamin F. Burwell (1866-1916) joined the practice of law. Burwell began practicing law in Oklahoma in 1891. By 1898, Burwell was serving as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court for the Territory of Oklahoma, a position he held from 1898 until statehood in 1907. Some of Judge Burwell’s books are still in the firm’s library today.
John Embry (1869-1960) joined the Firm, and its name became Embry, Crockett & Johnson. He had served as the U.S. Attorney for the Territory of Oklahoma and later for the State from 1907-1912.
The firm name became Embry, Johnson & Kidd when Chester P. Kidd joined in the practice of law. He retired in 1922 due to illness.
The firm name became Embry, Johnson & Tolbert, and the office moved to the Medical Arts Building at the southwest corner of Park and Broadway. Raymond A. Tolbert (1890-1960), a Texas native and a graduate from the University of Oklahoma School of Law (LL.B., 1913), was the firm’s Managing Partner until his death.
The next move was to the Perrine Building at the southwest corner of Park and Robinson.
Vincil Penny (“V.P.”) Crowe (1897-1974), a graduate of the University of Missouri, joined the firm, and the name became Embry, Johnson, Crowe & Tolbert. “V.P.” had been Garfield County Attorney in Enid, Oklahoma, and Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oklahoma.
The First National Building was completed this year, and the firm moved to Suite 640 at the southeast corner of Park and Robinson.
The firm name became Embry, Johnson, Crowe, Tolbert & Shelton to include its partner, Troy Shelton.
The firm name became Embry, Johnson, Crowe, Tolbert & Boxley to include John Embry’s son-in-law, Calvin P. Boxley (1901-1966).
“Olie” Johnson’s name was dropped from the firm name because of his death in 1950, and the name of Bruce H. Johnson was added to form Embry, Crowe, Tolbert, Boxley & Johnson. (The two Johnsons were not related.)
The firm moved to a new addition to the First National Building, 120 Park Avenue.
Vivian Diffendaffer becomes the first woman attorney to work at Crowe & Dunlevy.
After the deaths of John Embry and Raymond A. Tolbert in 1960, the firm’s name became Crowe, Boxley, Dunlevy, Thweatt, Swinford & Johnson. Fred W. Dunlevy had joined the firm in 1937, C. Harold Thweatt in 1944, and John W. Swinford in 1946.
The next move was to the 100 Park Building, which had been the firm’s address in 1922 when it was known as the Medical Arts Building.
The firm’s name became Crowe, Dunlevy, Thweatt, Swinford, Johnson & Burdick to include Ben L. Burdick who had joined the firm in 1947.
The new Liberty Tower was completed at the northeast corner of Main and Broadway, and the firm moved to the 16th and 17th floors.
Crowe, Dunlevy, Thweatt, Swinford, Johnson & Burdick, A Professional Corporation, became the firm’s name.
Crowe & Dunlevy, A Professional Corporation, became the firm’s name, and in the summer of 1981 it moved to the Mid-America Tower at the southeast corner of Main and Broadway (now known as 20 North Broadway). The Huckins Hotel originally occupied this site at Main and Broadway and was known to be the first capitol building in Oklahoma City.
To meet the needs of Tulsa clients, Crowe & Dunlevy opened an office in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Crowe & Dunlevy celebrated the firm’s centennial.
Crowe & Dunlevy established the Diversity Scholars Program at the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
Crowe & Dunlevy formed the Oklahoma Law Alliance.
Crowe & Dunlevy and Day, Edwards, Propester & Christensen combine resources to enhance services for local, national and international clients. Attorneys from Day, Edwards, Propester & Christensen joined Crowe & Dunlevy, with a focus on the securities and litigation and banking and financial institutions practice groups.
The firm’s Diversity Scholars Program commenced at The University of Tulsa College of Law.
Crowe & Dunlevy became the anchor tenant of Oklahoma City’s historic Braniff Building, a landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1923, the 10-story building serves as the firm’s Oklahoma City headquarters. The firm also celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Tulsa office, commemorating the milestone with donations to 25 Tulsa nonprofit organizations in recognition of its longstanding commitment to the community.
To keep up regional demands, Crowe & Dunlevy opens an office in Dallas.
The new Houston office and management team was added to bolster Crowe & Dunlevy’s ability to serve Houston’s thriving technology sector.
Crowe & Dunlevy launches its “Women in Banking, Fintech & Finance” (WBFF) initiative, providing educational, networking and mentoring opportunities for women in the banking, fintech, and finance industries. The initiative serves as a forum for women at all levels of the financial services industry to share, learn and grow from each other’s experiences during events designed exclusively for women. The forum is strategically intended for women in financial services in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. The brainchild of Crowe & Dunlevy’s Tulsa female attorneys, the initiative hosts bi-annual receptions in Tulsa featuring topical industry presentations and leadership panel discussions.
Crowe & Dunlevy launches its “In-House Oklahoma” initiative, bringing together nearly 700 in-house counsel representing over 400 companies across the state. The forum brings together the community of in-house leaders in Oklahoma to share legal best-practices in local, peer-to-peer networking. The goal of the initiative is for in-house counsel to build relationships and exchange best practices through strategic programming and networking hosted in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. In-House Oklahoma’s mission is to be the choice organization for networking, best practice exchange, and legal department thought leadership among the state’s in-house counsel.
Crowe Dunlevy launches its Aviation Leaders in Oklahoma Flight & Technology, or “ALOFT” initiative, an industry-focused forum highlighting the strength and future of our state’s aviation, aerospace, and unmanned systems ecosystem. The ALOFT initiative brings together industry executives, innovators, academic partners, policymakers, and economic development leaders to discuss trends shaping Oklahoma’s aviation future - including workforce, technology innovation, advanced air mobility, and emerging UAS applications. ALOFT hosts two events annually – one in Oklahoma City and one in Tulsa.
Founded
Headquarters
Oklahoma, Tulsa, Dallas, Houston
Full‑service law firm serving clients nationwide and internationally
trusted with complex, consequential legal matters
Attorneys
Total Professionals
Adam W. Childers, President & CEO
Home to Oklahoma’s only dedicated Trial Practice Group, Crowe Dunlevy is built to take cases all the way to verdict—not just to settlement conferences. Our trial lawyers are frequently called in by other firms as lead or parachute‑in trial counsel when the stakes are highest.
With deep roots in Oklahoma’s energy economy, we advise energy producers, utilities, developers, and investors on litigation, transactions, regulation, and environmental compliance across traditional and renewable sectors.
Crowe Dunlevy helps organizations proactively manage privacy obligations, prepare for and respond to cybersecurity incidents, and comply with evolving regulations through tailored policies, incident response support, regulatory engagement, and litigation defense.
Crowe Dunlevy is nationally recognized for its work with tribal governments and enterprises, providing counsel on sovereignty, gaming, economic development, and litigation—work that requires precision, trust, and long‑term relationships.
We operate at the intersection of law, policy, and business, advising clients before regulatory agencies, legislatures, and enforcement bodies at both the state and federal levels.
From closely held companies to Fortune 100 enterprises, clients rely on Crowe Dunlevy for strategic, plain‑spoken advice that aligns legal decisions with business goals.
At Crowe Dunlevy, our commitment to diversity is fundamental to our success, as well as the success of our clients, the communities we serve and our system of justice. We recognize that our ability to stand the test of time and evolve as a firm is the result of our ongoing endeavor to maintain an inclusive workplace where each team member feels empowered to bring their whole and authentic selves to work.
In 1985, we created the Crowe Dunlevy Foundation to provide financial support to a wide variety of deserving charitable and nonprofit organizations. Crowe Dunlevy’s tradition of giving back to the community supports a wide range of nonprofit organizations across Oklahoma and Texas. Our people provide time, treasure and talent to causes that need creative, solutions-oriented individuals to help accomplish a number of worthy missions.
Our prominent position has led to our selection as the sole Oklahoma member of several legal networks that help us serve clients with needs throughout the United States and the world. Exclusive memberships include Lex Mundi, State Law Resources, and Employment Law Alliance.
