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On April 22, 1895, the Albany Evening Journal reported the death of Paul Fenimore Cooper, son of the famous novelist James Fenimore Cooper. The article stated: "Soon after becoming of age, Mr. Fenimore Cooper came to this city and [associated with] the law firm of McMartin & Jenkins, who had but a short time previous succeeded to the business of Abraham Van Vechten. A few years later in 1850, he was admitted to partnership, and in 1854 Mr. McMartin withdrew. Since that date, up to the present day the partnership then formed, Jenkins & Cooper, has never been dissolved and the law firm is one of the oldest in the country and it may be that its age is equaled by none. Abraham Van Vechten was attorney for the old Patroon estate and the new firm continued to conduct the affairs of the estate. At the time of the formation of the partnership, the anti-rent war was at its height and the young lawyer's life was an active one in his early career."

The firm traces its origins back to the firm of Van Vechten and Van Vechten which was first reported to have existed in 1813, but may have originated even earlier. The anti-rent wars referenced in the article concerned the efforts of tenant farmers in the Albany area to free themselves from the bonds imposed by the owners of large quasi-feudal estates established by the Dutch when they first settled this area. The Van Rensselaer family was the best known of the Patroons (landlords). The connection between William Van Rensselaer Erving, a name partner in the firm, and the Van Rensselaer family, is obvious. An original deed, dated February 18, 1716, from King George to Killian Van Rensselaer, was found in the records of the firm.

James Fenimore Cooper, grandson of the author, was a partner in the firm from 1888-1938.

From its founding to the present, the firm's partners have occupied significant positions in the City and County of Albany, including New York State Supreme Court Justice, Mayor, County Legislator, and School Board Member. One partner actually served as a Supreme Court Justice for the Philippines when the islands were an American possession. Another wrote a famous report for the The New York Times on the Battle of Gettysburg.