RCO Law began with Clarence Brown in 1874. In 1882, Brown partnered with Frederick Lyman Geddes, each bringing key clients into their budding practice. By 1885, Brown had been retained by a committee of bondholders with a controlling interest in the Clover Leaf Railroad, running between Toledo and St. Louis. This work led to expanded representation of other railroads and related interests across a variety of legal disciplines. The firm enjoyed steady legal work for the railroad industry across the next century. The relationships of Messrs. Brown and Geddes with Toledo industrial giants Edward Drummond Libbey and Michael J. Owens would prove to be consequential to the Firm's growth and success. Owens, while working as the first superintendent of production for the Libbey Glass Company, invented an automatic glass bottle making machine around the turn of the 20th century, revolutionizing the glass container industry. In 1903, with financial backing from Libbey, Owens founded the Owens Bottle Machine Company which then merged with the Illinois Glass Company to form the Owens-Illinois Glass Company.
For a full recitation of the firm's history, please download the history brochure.
Read more about RCO Law's contributions to the Toledo Community.
See how RCO Rang in 150 Years in Style.
Find more information about RCO Law's 150th Anniversary Celebration.
Latest News
It is a universal truth of our society that at the first hint of anything out of the ordinary, someone will pull out their phone and start recording. From mainstream media outlets to platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, short form video ente ...
RCO Law is proud to recognize two of its attorneys for their dedicated service and leadership within the Toledo legal community. Robert “Bob” Tucker has been elected to serve as President of the Toledo Bar Association, stepping into one of the organ ...
RCO Law was honored by the Toledo Women’s Bar Association with its Family Friendly Firm award at its annual meeting on May 20, 2026. Created in 2005, the Family Friendly Award recognizes legal employers offering workplace policies to help lawyers ach ...