Frank A. Symmes began practicing law in 1910, and then went on to found our the firm in the 1920s. He was a member of the Indiana and Indianapolis State Bar Associations, the Lawyers Club, the Capital City Masonic Lodge, Murat Shrine and Scottish Rite. He was a 33rd degree Mason.

In 1955, he and his son Charles co-authored the Symmes Edition of Indiana Criminal Law. The pair represented Connie Nicholas in her trial for the shooting of Forrest Teal, President of Eli Lilly International, in 1959.

He remained the senior member of our firm (then known as Symmes Fleming Ober & Symmes) until the time of his death in 1966.