From its 1866 roots as a solo real estate practice founded by Charles Woods, GPM, widely nicknamed "the Kingman firm" after early 1880s GPM attorney Joseph R. Kingman, is one of the most enduring and prominent firms in Minneapolis. The firm has won awards across the board, including named to the BTI Client Service A-Team for 2012, a Go-To Law Firm for Intellectual Property and Litigation in 2012, one of the top four franchise law practices in Chambers Global and one of the "50 Best Law Firms for Women" in 2011 by the National Association for Female Executives and Flex-Time Lawyers.