HIGGS FLETCHER & MACK remains San Diego's oldest and largest law firm located exclusively in San Diego. The Firm was founded by two of San Diego's most prominent lawyers: DeWitt "Dutch" Higgs (1907-1994) and Ferdinand "Ferd" Fletcher (1911-2005). Dutch Higgs was a revered trial lawyer and the first San Diegan to be president of the California State Bar. He was also a Regent and later chairman of the Regents of the University of California. Ferd Fletcher was a prominent business and corporate lawyer. He was one of the core members of the pioneering and philanthropic San Diego Fletcher Family. In the 1940's, Henry "Pitts" Mack (1909-1974), a nationally prominent trial attorney, joined the Firm. Pitts' family was known for its influence and developments in the trucking industry. Ultimately, these founders instilled a measurable and lasting professional culture with the Firm. Ethical integrity and professional excellence remain the Firm's cornerstones - evident to its members, its clients and its competition.
In 1941, Cyrus Monroe and Wes McInnis, a boyhood friend of Ferd's, founded the closely related law firm of Monroe & McInnis which became a prominent San Diego litigation firm. Both the Higgs firm and the McInnis firm grew and gained prominence in the community during the ensuing decades, never losing sight of their obligations to serve their community and clients professionally, with integrity and honor. McInnis & Monroe is the genesis of the firm later known as McInnis, Fitzgerald, Rees & Sharkey, which merged with Higgs Fletcher & Mack in 1999, substantially strengthening the Firm's litigation presence. Since the merger with the McInnis firm, Higgs Fletcher & Mack has continued to strategically expand to over 70 attorneys and add Environmental and Immigration to its list of practice areas.