The Firm evolved from an association of Lloyd W. Bartlett and Robert H. Johnson in the practice of law in 1945 with offices in Bay City’s Phoenix Building.  In 1946, they were joined by David L. King.  The three continued their association under the firm name Bartlett, Johnson & King until the untimely death of Mr. Johnson in 1951.

Richard C. Learman joined Messrs. Bartlett and King in 1954 and the three practiced under the name Bartlett, King & Learman.  In 1956, the Firm moved its offices to the former Mutual Savings Building at Washington Avenue and Sixth Street in downtown Bay City.  The ensuing 15 years saw the addition of William E. Peters and Robert D. Sarow as partners in the Firm, as well as the death of the founding partner Lloyd W. Bartlett in 1972.  David L. King retired as a partner of the Firm in 1978 and passed away in 1982.

In 1977 the Firm designed and built its current office building at 900 Center Avenue at VanBuren Street in Bay City, enabling it to move from the Mutual Savings Building to its current location.

Over the years, the Firm grew with the association of D. Keith Birchler (1978), Richard B. Learman (1979), Walter P. Fitzhugh (1983), J. Joseph Purtell (1992), and Aaron J. Madziar (2007).

In 2003, Richard C. Learman retired from full time practice, but remains associated with the Firm in an “Of Counsel” capacity.  William E. Peters retired from the practice of law in 2004.  Robert D. Sarow retired from the full time practice of law as of December 31, 2007, but remains in an “Of Counsel” status with the Firm.  As of July 1, 2007, the Firm became known as Learman, Sarow, Birchler, Fitzhugh & Purtell, PLC.