About Us
With five knowledgeable attorneys and supported paralegals in Whitman, Adams & Lincoln counties, we are committed to providing quality legal work in an efficient and reliable manner.
Firm History
The law firm of McGuire, DeWulf, Kragt and Johnson has its origins in Eastern Washington that dates back to the 1930’s. Fred Campbell and Floyd Underwood formed a partnership of Underwood Campbell in 1936 in Davenport, Washington. They practiced together until Floyd Underwood’s death. At that time the firm had grown and changed names from Underwood, Campbell and Zellmer to Underwood, Campbell, Brock and Cerutti. That firm practiced with four offices: Davenport, Spokane, Sprague and St.John until 1995.
In 1995, Brock, Carpenter and McGuire was formed out of the Davenport office separate from Spokane. It maintained an office in St.John and then purchased the Laurence Libsack office in Odessa with Laurence continuing as “of Counsel” until his death. In 1998, the firm expanded to include the purchase of the practice of long-time Ritzville practitioners Walt Miller and Milt Sackmann. The firm then became Brock, Carpenter, McGuire and DeWulf. In 2005, the firm expanded to include the purchase of long-time Rosalia lawyer Don Sheahan’s practice.
In 2012, the law firm began a new course under the name Carpenter, McGuire and DeWulf with Ken Carpenter, Rusty McGuire and Mark DeWulf as partners. John Kragt began working in our office out of the Ritzville location and became a partner in 2017. In 2014, Matthew Johnson joined the firm and along with help of partners Rusty McGuire and John Kragt, expanded the firm into the Colfax market with a newly remodeled building. In 2016, Colfax attorney Gary Libey retired from private practice and the original office of Nuxoll, Libey and Ensley was moved to our new location where longtime Colfax attorney Bruce Ensley joined the firm as "of Counsel". Following Ken Carpenter's retirement in 2019, the firm transitioned to its current name, McGuire, DeWulf, Kragt and Johnson.
In 1995, Brock, Carpenter and McGuire was formed out of the Davenport office separate from Spokane. It maintained an office in St.John and then purchased the Laurence Libsack office in Odessa with Laurence continuing as “of Counsel” until his death. In 1998, the firm expanded to include the purchase of the practice of long-time Ritzville practitioners Walt Miller and Milt Sackmann. The firm then became Brock, Carpenter, McGuire and DeWulf. In 2005, the firm expanded to include the purchase of long-time Rosalia lawyer Don Sheahan’s practice.
In 2012, the law firm began a new course under the name Carpenter, McGuire and DeWulf with Ken Carpenter, Rusty McGuire and Mark DeWulf as partners. John Kragt began working in our office out of the Ritzville location and became a partner in 2017. In 2014, Matthew Johnson joined the firm and along with help of partners Rusty McGuire and John Kragt, expanded the firm into the Colfax market with a newly remodeled building. In 2016, Colfax attorney Gary Libey retired from private practice and the original office of Nuxoll, Libey and Ensley was moved to our new location where longtime Colfax attorney Bruce Ensley joined the firm as "of Counsel". Following Ken Carpenter's retirement in 2019, the firm transitioned to its current name, McGuire, DeWulf, Kragt and Johnson.