About Our Firm

A law firm is a melding of beliefs, traditions, knowledge and expertise that reflects the influence of the past and a vision for the future.  In the legal practice areas we service and through the attorneys in our firm, we stay dedicated to our future while proud of our tradition and rich history.

Noble Beginnings

Hansen Dordell Bradt Odlaug & Bradt, was founded in 1946 on the vision and principles of Horace R. Hansen.

Horace R. Hansen was a prosecuting attorney in the Ramsey County Attorney's office until World War II interrupted his practice. Like many others of his generation, he left a promising career to serve his country. He served it well and, as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, prosecuted war crimes at the Nuremberg trials and served as Chief Prosecutor at the Dachau trials.

In 1946, Hansen returned to St. Paul and joined forces with attorney Larry Hazen. They started a general practice law firm and soon became known as tough and innovative litigators. Their goal was to advance the cause of justice by seeking to better the lot of the common person, often favoring the side of David over Goliath.

Over the years, Hansen was joined by a core group of dedicated attorneys. The firm’s reputation for litigation excellence was cemented with the addition of Gene Bradt and Wayne Dordell in 1963, Dave Odlaug in 1970, and Bill Bradt in 1973, and grew into today’s Hansen, Dordell, Bradt, Odlaug & Bradt.

Aggressive Advocates

Horace Hansen was an extremely good lawyer and true gentleman. HDBOB today reflects his influence and philosophy. Our present generation of attorneys follow in his footsteps, as well as those of all the great lawyers who have associated with the firm. We have developed a reputation as a congenial group of attorneys who value hard work and diligence. We have a long-standing tradition of being respectful, yet aggressive, adversaries. Our environment is open and friendly, ever cognizant of our duty to our clients.

We always strive for efficiencies. We consider each case on its own merits, anticipate where the outcome might lie, and direct our efforts to get there most efficiently. We have a special talent for tackling complex issues and explaining them in easy-to-understand terms.

We are a medium-size firm and maintain this nimble size so we can devote our full attention to each and every case. We have clients who have trusted their legal work to us for more than 60 years. They know that we treat each case—and each client— with the same level of respect and importance.

We work hard to prove, each and every day, that we are among the best in the business, and we do not rest on our laurels. Each case presents us with a new opportunity to be thoughtful, innovative, and attentive. The attorneys at Hansen, Dordell, Bradt, Odlaug & Bradt are up to the challenge.

New Opportunities, Old Traditions

Since 1946, the attorneys of Hansen, Dordell, Bradt, Odlaug & Bradt have been problem solvers for individuals and businesses. Our attorneys can be counted on to achieve the results that our clients desire. The formula for our success is simple: preparation, knowledge and experience.

Although the legal profession has gone through changes over the years, we at Hansen, Dordell, Bradt, Odlaug & Bradt have always believed that the ability to continuously provide strong service makes all the difference in the results we achieve for our clients. Our vision for the future includes retaining our values, even as we expand into new areas and new opportunities. We enjoy our firm’s reputation as the “epitome of professional” and will continue to hold true to that value. Like our firm’s founders, we will work hard to be viewed by our clients and our opponents as respectful, innovative, and diligent lawyers.

Our principles and values form a dynamic combination to be cherished and one that money can’t buy. We are confident that decades from now, the same principles and values will continue to shape Hansen, Dordell, Bradt, Odlaug & Bradt, as our traditions are passed down from year to year and from partner to associate.