The history of Hoon & Associates, LLC is somewhat unique.  Its genesis was when Phil Hoon “hung his shingle” for the sole practice of law in Chestertown on July 1, 1982.

Following law school, Phil was employed by Weinberg & Green, a large law firm in Baltimore.  Although Phil was raised and educated elsewhere, his hope was to “someday” live in Chestertown where he had spent many childhood family vacations and holidays.

The sad catalyst of that becoming a reality was the sudden death of a close family member in 1981 and the realization that ‘life is too short” not to pursue one’s hopes and dreams.  Like Mark Twain wrote “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the things you did do . . . so throw off the bow lines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails . . . Explore. Dream. Discover.”

To that end, Phil tried to affiliate with several attorneys in Chestertown.  Unfortunately, that was not possible as a matter of space because they practiced in one room 19^th century law offices.  Therefore, with a part-time secretary and no client base, he rented a small office and started the practice of law.

When Phil announced his plans to his colleagues at Weinberg & Green, the reactions ranged from incredulous (Aren’t you going to work at another Baltimore firm?!) to skeptical admiration (“Are you really going to do that? Go Boy!”).  But off he went . . .

Phil had the good fortune of some success in the early years of his practice.  In the late 1980’s he and his father purchased the building at 104 S. Cross Street.  Before it could be used, “104” had to be fully restored – a two year project – because it had last been used as an appliance warehouse, with no interior walls and all of the windows filled in with bricks.

Hoon & Associates is still located at 104, in the commercial heart of Chestertown’s National Historic District.

Phil’s rather amorphous long-term dream was to someday create a Chestertown based law firm with a practice throughout the upper Eastern Shore.  But until that time was right with people of like mind, he affiliated with various other attorneys.

Phil established Hoon & Associates, LLC in 1998.  It grew and matured his practice in Chestertown.

Marcie Riley joined Hoon & Associates in 2005.  As an experienced paralegal, she brought her special abilites and positive perspective to the firm.  She is now the Office Manager.

So there it is . . . a history which began with the creation of a sole practice “out of whole cloth” 35 years ago which has now flourished into a law firm with four seasoned professionals.