History

      The law firm of Horswill, Mederos & Soares has its roots dating back to January 1954.  At that time, then Judge Ward Rush commenced a partnership with a young attorney from the Tulare/Kings Counties area by the name of Joseph L. Soares.  The new law firm took the name of Rush & Soares and opened its practice in downtown Tulare.
     Shortly before the retirement of Judge Rush, the law firm moved to its newly constructed law office near the Tulare District Hospital.  In September of 1960, the new office opened at 791 North Cherry, Tulare, California. The attorneys in the office at that time were Judge Ward Rush, Joseph L. Soares, Russell Henry and Robert P. Stringham.
    After the retirement of Judge Rush, Mr. Soares continued to practice law with the addition of Brian M. Rowson who joined the firm in 1963.  The firm shortly thereafter became Soares, Simpson & Rowson with the previous departure of Mr. Henry and Mr. Stringham.
    In 1968, Mr. Simpson had left the firm and an attorney who had recently passed the bar became an associate. William Silveira, Jr. in time became a partner of the firm, which soon became known as Soares, Rowson & Silveira.
    For the next eight (8) years, the firm continued to emphasize the general practice of law in the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley.  In 1976, the judgeship for the Municipal Court of the Tulare-Pixley District was created and Mr. Silveira was appointed to the bench by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.  Judge Silveira is now the senior judge of the Superior Court in Tulare County.
     In February of 1978, Joseph L. Horswill (who had recently passed the California State Bar exam), was hired as an associate by the firm of Soares & Rowson.
    After two (2) years of practice as an attorney with the Fresno County Public Defender's Office, Dennis A. Mederos was hired in February of 1980 as an associate by the same firm.
    In 1982, the firm became known as Soares, Rowson & Horswill with the addition of Mr. Horswill as a partner.  Two (2) years later in 1984, Mr. Mederos became a partner in the firm known as Soares, Rowson, Horswill & Mederos.
    In 1989 with the death of Joseph L. Soares, the firm reduced its size to a three attorney law firm.
    In August of 1995, Don D Dorman was hired after four (4) years of practice in the Tulare County District Attorney's Office.  Prior to hire, Mr. Dorman passed all sections of the Certified Public Accountants exam on his first attempt making him Board Eligible to become a Certified Public Accountant.
    On January 1, 1998, Mr. Rowson became "Of Counsel" to the firm and Mr. Dorman became a partner.  The new law firm of Horswill, Mederos & Dorman was created.
    On January 1, 2002, Mr. Rowson retired after almost 40 years of distinguished service to the firm and the practice of law.  Shortly after his retirement (January 7, 2002), Joseph F. Soares was hired as a new associate.
    Mr. Soares passed the California State Bar in 2001, and immediately went to work for the Tulare County District Attorney's Office.  After a short period of employment with the District Attorney's Office, Mr. Soares joined the firm of Horswill, Mederos & Dorman.
      Effective July of 2004, Mr. Dorman became "Of Counsel" in order to complete courses to become an accountant. Mr. Soares thus became a partner. The new law firm of Horswill, Mederos & Soares was created and continues to practice law as set forth in its profile. Mr. Dorman is now employed by the city of Fremont, CA and is no longer associated with the firm.
    In January 2006, the Tulare Chamber of Commerce gave its Small Business of The Year Award to the law firm of Horswill, Mederos & Soares for its service to the community.
    This firm and its predecessors have been in existence over fifty (50) years serving its clients and the Central Valley community.  This firm has always and will continue to take pride in the legal service provided to its clientele.