After more than 70 years and eight Caspers, the Casper & Casper law firm moved its offices from downtown to the area known as the Renaissance District in the city’s east end.

Brothers Jack and I.A. Casper started the firm in Middletown in 1936 in the First National building, which became First Financial Bancorp. It moved to the former Cincinnati Gas & Electric building in the 1970s, from which it moved to the East Pointe building Friday and Saturday. This last move was made in anticipation of the potential branch campus of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College downtown, said Doug Casper, a workers’ compensation lawyer.

The city has obtained several buildings downtown, including the Manchester Inn, First National Bank property and the former CG&E building at 1. N. Main St., where the law firm and The Middletown Journal were previously located.

“Downtown Middletown has a lot going for it a lot of people don’t realize,” Casper said. “We never thought of leaving Middletown.”

Casper & Casper is now a third generation personal injury, Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and Social Security disability law firm. There are four Caspers at offices in Middletown, Dayton, Hamilton and Cincinnati. Jack’s sons are Jeff, a Social Security lawyer who works in Hamilton; Sanford, a workers’ compensation lawyer who works in Dayton; and Doug, who works in Middletown. I.A.’s sons are Robert, who is retired; and Brandy, a personal injury lawyer who works in Middletown.

Sanford’s son Steve also works in Middletown. Jack and I.A. have passed.

In total, the firm has about 50 attorneys and staff members, of which roughly 25 work in Middletown, 3420 Atrium Blvd., said Megan Richards, one of the attorneys.

Casper & Casper leases approximately 8,000-square-feet from Al Neyer Inc. in the same building as Paychex, State Farm Insurance and East Pointe Dental, said Chris Dobrozsi, vice president of real estate development for the Cincinnati real estate development company.

The East Pointe building opened in 2008, with the intent to attract medical and professional users looking to consolidate between Dayton and Cincinnati or stay in Middletown, Dobrozsi said. With Casper moving in, it now has 89 percent occupancy, he said.

“It’s a huge win to keep them in the city,” he said.

East Pointe has two tenant spaces left, about 3,000-square-feet each. Dobrozsi said Al Neyer controls or owns almost 100 acres in the Renaissance District area, with plans for two more similar buildings on Atrium Boulevard. But moving ahead with construction will depend on the economy and signing new users.

He added that Al Neyer helped the city create a master plan for the district.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or clevingston@coxohio.com.