In 1968, Norman E. Harned moved to Bowling Green, Ky. from Lockbourne Air Force Base near Columbus, Ohio where he served as a Judge Advocate General. Harned opened a general practice where he worked not only on civil litigation, real estate and commercial law cases, but also some criminal defense work.
In 1974, Harned assisted in founding the law firm of Cole, Harned & Broderick. This firm focused in the areas of insurance defense and worker’s compensation law. Harned soon become known statewide as a leader in the area of worker’s compensation law, and wrote the legal treatise Kentucky Workers Compensation, first published in 1984.
On February 1, 1988, Harned began a new law firm with then Bowling Green-Warren County Bar Association President Scott A. Bachert, as well as David Anderson. Their practice had offices at 911 College Street near downtown Bowling Green. Joy D. Denton joined the firm as an associate on August 1 of the same year.
In September 1990, the firm moved to its current location at 324 E. 10th Avenue in Bowling Green. The building was originally a home built late in the 19th century and was later used to board Western Kentucky University students. In the mid-1980s, it was converted to office space, but remains part of Bowling Green’s Downtown Historic Preservation District.
Denton became a partner in the firm in 1994, and in 1995 the firm changed its name to Harned, Bachert & Denton, LLP.
The firm has grown steadily and is now comprised of three named partners and three associates. All of HBD’s attorneys continue to actively serve their industry and their community through various organizations. Above all, the attorneys of HBD are committed to serving their clients in a cost-efficient and effective manner.