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Birkett Longhistory
From 1821 to 1899
1821
Geo. Sperling being admitted in 1821 (Deceased at 57, 3 November 1858) - A letter to G. Sperling from 1842 is in storage.
1822
Decimus Sewell was admitted and practised in Halstead High Street. He was joined in Partnership by Edward Henry Inman admitted 1871 and they moved to a house nearly opposite Red House.
1840
George William Harris was admitted at Michaelmas.
1862
Robert Rutherford Morton was admitted at Michaelmas. (Robert married Miss Sinclair and had 3 daughters and 2 sons. One daughter becoming a celebrated Wimbledon player - Agatha Morton.)
1868
1 January G W Harris and RR Morton joined partnership. (G W Harris deceased 2 April 1892 at 73) - Partnership deed in storage. The firm’s name changed to Harris Morton & Harris in the deed.
1877
6th February, Francis Harris B.A, Son of G W Harris was duly admitted. Francis was practising as a member of the firm Harris Morton & Harris.
1882
R. R Morton had been appointed Clerk to the Local Board of Health (by 1899 the local board of Health had become the Urban District Council of with R. R Morton was Clerk).
1884
Ernest Edward Surridge was admitted and took over the practice in the high street in 1897.
1894
R. R Morton became Urban District Council Clerk.
1899
W.A. Smith was admitted. He practiced alone in Colchester Road Halstead until 1905.
From 1903 to 1946
1903
Francis died a bachelor at Aswan in Egypt on 10th March. (Francis Harris succeeded his father as clerk of the Magistrates and county court registrar as high Baliff). 1918 Egyptian letters of administration in storage.
1903
R. R Morton’s son Gerard Sinclair Morton practiced alone in Torquay Devon until 1903 & joined his father in Halstead following the death of Francis Harris.
1903
Renamed to Morton & Son.
1905
W. A Smith entered into partnership with Ernest Edward Surridge. From 1905 - 1914 E. E Surridge was also in partnership with “Beaumont” of Coggeshall.
1906
R. R Morton purchased a wig and gown which must have been of reasonable quality since they were still giving good service up to 1983. - Wig in storage, he used this when he was Registrar of the County Court.
1917
R. R Morton died on 16 January leaving G. S Morton the surviving partner.
1922
G. S Morton accepted Ronald Long as an Articled Clerk.
1927
Morton & Son acquired by Ronald Long and G.S Morton.
1927
The practice was sold to Ronald Long and that of Morton & Son were amalgamated as W A Smith, Morton & Son.
1927-1967
Ronald Long was Clerk to Halstead Urban District Council for forty years. The Limes 33 Head Street Halstead was the office for the firm until 1936. (Ronald Long was admitted as a solicitor in August 1927 and was still a practising solicitor when he died in October 1987, so was therefore one of a very few solicitors to have been in practise for over sixty years). W.A. Smith also practised with his brother, H. Elmore Smith at Temple Chambers London. Elmore was a “libel reader” for the Daily Express. W.A and H. Elmore were the London Agents for the firm.
1927
GS Morton retired.
1934
George Dyer Nott was admitted.
1935
From 1935 – 1945 Ronald Long was clerk to the North West Essex Regional Planning committee and in the War years was the Local Executive Office in charge of Food Control and Civil Defence.
1935
Red House, Halstead was purchased by Halstead Urban District Council.
1937
31st December W. A Smith died from pneumonia.
1937
Terms of partnership with George Dyer Nott started 1st February. - Deed of Partnership in Storage.
1938
David H Hughes OBE was admitted. (Only stayed for a short while as he became Official Receiver of Uganda after serving with the Friends Ambulance in the 1939 - 44 War).
1941
Ronald Long was the local commanding officer of 1163 squadron Colne Valley Air Training Corps from 1941-45.
1945
R. Long and James Alfred Hines agreed terms of partnership on 1st November. J. A Hines was a Captain in the R.A. due for early release from the Army because he had joined up at the commencement and served throughout the war.
1946
The Partnership agreement with R Long and James Alfred was recorded. Partnership Agreement in Storage
From 1950 to 1979
1950
Ronald was appointed as a member of the Society’s Eastern Legal Aid Committee on its inception.
1952
Ronald Long became President of the Suffolk and Essex Law Society.
1959
Ronald Long was appointed a member of the Disciplinary Committee.
1963
R. Long became President of the Law Society and was knighted in 1964.
1963
Ronald Long, James Alfred Hines, David Lumsden Colthorpe and Tony Frost became partners under the name Smith, Morton & Long. - Partnership agreement in box.
1964
In July Ronald Long was knighted and became founder and first solicitor member of the criminal Injuries Compensation Board.
1966
Sir Ronald Long was Chairman of Whitlock Bros Ltd, of Great Yeldham from 1966-72.
1967
Richard Ronald Long son of Ronald Long became partner from 16th May. Sir Ronald Long becomes Chairman of the School Governors.
1968
Sir Ronald Long was Chairman of the Stansted Airport Consultative Committee (1968-78).
1970
Christopher Holmes became partner.
1973
1st April Smith, Morton & Long took over Mr John Donnelly’s practice on 11 & 12 West Stockwell Street Colchester. Mr Donnelly let the office premises to them on a five year lease.
1973
A re-organisation of the firm was undertaken by six partners – Sir Ronald Long, James Alfred Hines, Anthony Hazelwood Frost, David Lumsden Colthorpe, Richard Ronald Long and Christopher John Holmes. This was recorded in a Deed of Partnership dated 20th February 1973 which was in effect from 15th May 1972.
1974
Mr Robert Douglas Mark Stevens became a salaried partner and retired on 15th May 1976.
1975
The firm surrendered the Lease of West Stockwell Street and took a lease of part of Essex House, Crouch Street, Colchester. - Lease of Essex House in storage.
1976
Philip William George M.A. and Edmund John Barton became salaried partners with the six. Mr George was based at Colchester and Mr Barton at Halstead. - Deed of partnership in storage.
1978
On 15th May J. A Hines retired. - Documents of retirement and London Gazette clipping in storage.
1978
Sir Ronald Long became Chairman of the Governors of Earls Colne Grammar School and President of the Essex Club.
1979
Sir Ronald Long became consultant.
1979
Adrian W. Livesley LL.B joined.
From 1980 to 2000
1980
On 15th May Sir R Long retired as a partner & stayed as a consultant at the firm. - Deeds of retirement as partner in storage.
1984
Susan Masters and Adrian Livesley became partners.
1986
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother officially opened St Helena Hospice, with Christopher Holmes by her side.
1987
4 October Sir Ronald Long dies. - Newspaper clippings from the Halstead Gazette are in storage.
1988
They took over the practice J E Daldy & Co in Clacton on Sea. John Daldy (admitted 1950) retired in 1992 and in 1992 the practice was disposed of to the then resident solicitor Miss Jane Pleass. - Agreements in storage.
1988
Bill Mabon became partner.
1989
The firm moved into 42 Crouch Street.
1989
1st October was called Birkett Westhorp & Long.
1989
Smith Morton & Long merge with Birketts and Westhorp Ward & Catchpole.
1989
The Colchester office was officially opened by John Wakeham who was a government minister and local Maldon MP.
1989
Birkett Long introduce Independent Financial Advisers to the firm.
1990
Jane Calnan became partner.
1991
Sheldon Pumfrey became partner.
1992
Chris Holmes was Chairman of St Helena Hospice until 1996.
1994
Philip Hoddell became partner.
1995
The Partnership of Birkett Westhorp & Long which had been formed in 1989 by the merger of Smith Morton & Long merge with Birketts and Westhorp Ward & Catchpole, was dissolved and the practice divided down the county boundary and the modern firm Birkett Long was born. Bruce Ballard, Jane Eatock, Andrew Cotterell, Louise Long and Wanda Domhof joined the new partnership of Birkett Long.
1995
Keith Larkman and Tony Peel (Chairman of Essex County Council), Partners in Asher Prior Bates of Colchester joined the firm as Partner and consultant respectively.
1996
Chris Holmes was Chairman of Macmillan Cancer Support in Essex until his death.
1997
Richard Long retires.
1998
www.birkettlong.co.uk was created.
2000
In June David Colthorpe stepped down as a Partner, remaining with the firm on a consultancy basis, and Peter Allen, Kurt Goddard and Tim Ogle were admitted into Partnership.
From 2000 to 2010
2000
Chris Holmes was Deputy Lieutenant and was awarded the OBE for his public services.
2002
In June Birkett Long increased its presence in Essex, when it opened its third office at Ocean House, Waterloo Lane, Chelmsford. At the same time, David Cammack became a Partner.
2002
Birgit Ris joined the Firm as a Partner in the Corporate and Transactions team, becoming a consultant on 16 August 2004.
2003
David Wybar, a Partner with Ashton Graham in Ipswich, joined the Firm as a Partner in the Rural Business Team and Martin Hopkins became a Partner in June 2003.
2004
David Wisbey joined the Firm and the Corporate and Transaction Team as a PartnerTony Frost stepped down as a Partner, remaining with the firm on a consultancy basis, and Simon Loome was admitted into the Partnership.
2005
Claire Read became a Partner in the Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate Team.
2006
The office grew rapidly and on 29 August the firm moved to much larger premises at Number One Legg Street Chelmsford; this was part of a long term strategy to be the leading full service firm in Essex by providing all legal services in both offices. On the same date the firm closed its Halstead office and personnel working there were transferred to the Chelmsford or Colchester offices.
2006
Tracey Dickens became a Partner in the Commercial & Corporate Finance Team.
2007
Christopher Holmes and Sheldon Pumfrey retired from the Partnership, with Christopher remaining with the firm on a consultancy basis. David Colthorpe and Tony Peel retired as consultants with the firm. Justina Ridley became a Partner in the Residential Property Team. October Birgit Ris was no longer a consultant with the firm.
2008
Keith Larkman stepped down as a Partner, remaining with the firm on a consultancy basis. Keith Songhurst became a Partner in the Commercial Litigation Team and Stephen Avila became a consultant with the firm.
2008
June 1st Birkett Long became a LLP and rebranded the website, logo and colours.
2009
Chris O'Mahony became a consultant with the firm. John Morgan became a consultant with the firm and Tony Frost former MP and senior partner retired as a consultant with the firm.
2009
1 May Birkett Long acquired with Jackson & Partners.
2010
Philip George stepped down as managing partner and retired from the Partnership but remained with the firm on a consultancy basis.
2010
1 June Birkett Long acquired Weight Wolny & Trusler. Bob Wolny became a Partner in the Chelmsford Property Team and John Trusler became a Consultant with the firm. David Rayner became a Partner in the Chelmsford Property Team.
From 2011 to 2016
2011
Liz Jones became a Partner in the Care Team. Amanda Smallcombe became a Partner in the Civil Litigation Team. Kevin Sullivan became a Partner in the Corporate & Insolvency Team. Louise Pisano and David Cant became the first non-lawyer Partners with the Firm. Simon Loome left the Partnership. Keith Larkman became a Non-Practising Consultant.
2011
On the 3 October a new South Essex office opened at Phoenix House in Basildon. This was part of a long term strategy to be recognised as the leading full service firm and the best legal business in and throughout Essex.
2011
Birkett Long opened its first Twitter account.
2012
Birkett Long employs their first apprentice.
2012
On the 1 June Birkett Long acquired Brian Ruff, Angus & Jewers. Alex Angus and Robert Jewers became Consultants with the firm.
2012
In July Birkett Long support a local Basildon athletic runner Gemma Kersey.
2013
On the 1 May Birkett Long merged with E.Edwards, Son & Noice. Jane Calnan retired in December.
2013
Birkett Long achieved the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Standard.
2014
Birkett Long win gold an award in the Essex Chronicle’s “use of social media for business” Digital Awards.
2014
Birkett Long sponsor Colchester athlete Louis Persent.
2014
Melanie Bache is promoted to Partner in the Colchester office.
2014
Birkett Long is awarded the gold Investors in People award.
2014-2014 Philip Hoddell was the President of The Suffolk and North Essex Law Society
2015
Birkett Long win gold an award in the Essex Chronicle’s “use of video for business” Digital Awards.
2015
On the 1 September Birkett Long acquired Asher Prior Bates.
2015
Justin Stock joins Birkett Long as Partner.
2015
Caroline Dowding is promoted to Partner in the Colchester wills, trust and probate team.
2015
November Birkett Long creates a Facebook account.
2016
January – Birkett Long choose Cry as Charity of the year
2016
January – Birkett Long 2015 charity of the year RGF raise over £11,000
2016
February – Ben Parmenter and Liz Jones become Solicitors for the Elderly
2016
March – Birkett Long raise £3,825 for CoHoC
2016
April – Birkett Long launch BL Human Resources
2016
April – Birkett Long teams become members of Dementia Friends
2016
April – James Anaxagorou joins as BD for BL HR
2016
April – The Birkett Long Chelmsford office relocates to prime site: Faviell House, 1 Coval Wells, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1WZ
2016
April – Birkett Long become award winners for third year! We win Bronze at the EDA awards for business blog
2016
June – Daniel Sturman and Paul Chilver become associates
2016
August – Birkett Long IFA’s employ its 1st Financial planner trainee
2016
September – Birkett Long’s trainees qualify! Caroline and Ella
2016
November – Birkett Long becomes an Innovation50 Businesses within Essex
From 2017 to 2020
2017
January – Simon Green, Jenny Bruce, Emma Harper and Lorraine Younger are promoted to Associate
2017
January - Emma Clarke, Lisa Collins, Mel Loxley and Emma Wraight are promoted to Partner
2017 After 28 years in Crouch Street, Birkett Long move to Amphora Place
2017
Marc Thurlow joined the firm as Partner
2018
June - Joann Kebbell and Ben Parmenter are promoted to Partner
2018
June - Francesca Cozens is promoted to Associate
2019
January - Katie Gibson-Green is promoted to Associate
2019
Julie Temple returns to Birkett Long on 2 January 2019 as a Partner and team leader of the BLHR and Employment team, based in Colchester
2019
January - Mark Davidson joins us as our Director of IT
2019
April - Jonathan Perlmutter joins us as Head of IP and an Associate of the firm
2019
June - Adrian Livesley steps down as Managing Partner after 9 years in the post and 40 years at the firm. Adrian remains at Birkett Long as a Consultant Solicitor
2019
June - Martin Hopkins becomes Managing Partner
2019
June - David Wisbey steps down as Chairman, making way for Kurt Goddard to take on this role
2019
Tim Field and Muntech Kaur are promoted to Associate
2020
June - Leonie Dolling, Thomas Emmett, Emma Jenkins, Karen Johnson and Joanna Tollworthy are all promoted to Associate
2020
June - Emma Coke, Mark Davidson, Tim Field, Emma Harper, Jonathan Perlmutter and Helen Pettican are promoted to Senior Associate
2020
December - Marina Athanasiou, Gaye Eason, Perdeep Grewal, Rachel Leech and Jasmin Patel are promoted to Associate
2020
December - Tracy England is promoted to Senior Associate
