John Dustin Bicknell (1838-1911) established a law firm in Los Angeles in 1872 with John R. McConnell and Joseph M. Rothschild, and in 1876 he formed a partnership with Stephen Mallory White. After White left to take an active part in California politics, Geogre J. Denis became Bicknell's new partner until 1890 when Bicknell joined forces with Walter J. Trask. Seven years later James A. Gibson joined the firm, which became known as Bicknell, Gibson & Trask. In 1903, Bicknell and his partners merged with the Los Angeles law firm of Dunn & Crutcher, which would eventually become known as Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. For many years Bicknell served as counsel for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company working for both Collis Potter Huntington and his nephew, Henry Edwards Huntington. Bicknell specialized in land patent law, was one of the owners of a gold mine near Gorman, California, and had several real estate holdings.
From the description of Papers of John Dustin Bicknell, 1872-1914 (bulk 1887-1897). (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122383216
