Blake Morgan LLP

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Blake Morgan LLP
HeadquartersPortsmouth, United Kingdom
No. of offices6[1]
No. of lawyersApprox. 530[1]
No. of employeesApprox. 1000[1]
Major practice areasFull-service
Key peopleMike Wilson (Managing Partner)
Bruce Potter(Chairman)
Elizabeth Carr (chief operating officer)[2]
Company typeLimited Liability Partnership
WebsiteBlake Morgan LLP

Blake Morgan LLP is a large full-service commercial law firm with offices in Cardiff, London, Oxford, Portsmouth, Reading and Southampton in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 2014 following a merger between the Cardiff-based Morgan Cole and the Portsmouth-based Blake Lapthorn. It employs approximately 415 lawyers and 145 other fee-earners. It has 130 partners. It is registered with the Law Society of England and Wales.[2]

Practice[]

A number of practice areas deliver advice to clients in the public, private and insurance sectors. The firm specialises in advice to clients in the health & social care, education, retail and energy sectors.

Blake Morgan's main practice areas include:[3]

  • Aviation and aircraft finance
  • Banking and Finance
  • Commercial contacts
  • Construction and engineering
  • Corporate
  • Dispute resolution
  • Driver defence
  • Employment, pensions and benefits
  • Family law
  • Financial services
  • Health and Social Care
  • Real estate
  • Insurance
  • IP/IT

Blake Cole was formed by the merger of Morgan Bruce and Cole & Cole in 1998.[4]

History[]

Cole and Cole[]

Cole & Cole was formed in Oxford in 1945 by two brothers, Raymond Buxton Cole and Maurice Buxton Cole and quickly spread throughout Oxfordshire partly by the opening of new offices and partly by merger. In particular the Abingdon practice of Morland & Son was acquired in 1951 which traced its history back to 1784. Benjamin Morland who started work as a clerk in 1784 was a member of the Morland brewing family.

This acquisition was followed by the acquisition of Soanes & Co, in Burford in 1966 and the firm of Francis Wickins & Hill in Stow-on-the-Wold in 1982.

Most of the expansion of the firm resulted from sustained growth within Oxford which led to the opening of a dedicated commercial department in Kidlington in 1984, a specialist matrimonial, crown and magistrates court department in Cambridge Terrace, Oxford and a commercial and litigation office in Reading in 1987. In addition, a Croydon insurance litigation office opened in 1997.

At the time of the merger with Morgan Bruce, Cole & Cole was the pre-eminent firm in the Thames Valley with 35 partners and a staff of over 200. In addition to its strong commercial and private client bases, Cole & Cole had significant insurance, education, employment, licensing and health practices.

Clients included Oxford University, Amey plc, British Alcan, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, The Police Federation, Equal Opportunities Commission and Xerox to name but a few.

Cole & Cole had obtained a Legal Aid franchise and accreditation with ISO9001.[citation needed]

Morgan Bruce[]

Morgan Bruce grew by a series of five mergers from its initial opening in 1836. The first merger was in May 1987 when Morgan Bruce & Nicholas joined forces with Hardwickes.

Morgan Bruce & Nicholas

The firm of Morgan Bruce & Nicholas originated with Walter H Morgan who became a solicitor in 1875, established a practice in Pontypridd the following year and opened the premises which remained an office of the firm until 1995.

Walter Morgan (1853–1901) was prominent in public life becoming an Alderman, Under-Sheriff and a Vice-Chairman of Glamorgan County Council.

After a few years as Walter Morgan & Rhys the firm's name was changed to Walter Morgan, Bruce & Nicholas following the arrival of Gerald Bruce who qualified in 1893 and Walter Nicholas who qualified in 1894.

Sir Gerald Bruce (as he became) was a well-known figure in South Wales over decades and included in his many achievements chairmanship of Wales and Monmouthshire Industrial Estates Ltd, an organisation which contributed significantly to the economic recovery of Wales following the depression of the thirties. Sir Gerald was Lord Lieutenant of the County of Glamorgan from 1943 to 1952.

Sir Walter Nicholas also achieved eminence and was knighted for his services to local government administration. He was directly concerned with the promotion of local and private Acts of Parliament and served as a part-time Clerk of Rhondda Urban District Council. He made a significant contribution to the development of statute law relating to workmen's compensation.

During its long history the firm acquired a tradition (which continues today) of its partners combining public service with a private practice covering diverse areas of the law, including industrial estate development, charities, workmen's compensation, litigation and company and commercial work, as well as more conventional areas assisting 'the man on the street'.

After further brief periods as Morgan, Bruce, Nicholas and James and Morgan, Bruce, Nicholas and Porcher the name Morgan, Bruce & Nicholas finally emerged shortly after the First World War and remained unchanged until merger. During the first 87 years of its existence the firm was centred in Pontypridd, but in 1963 a decision was taken to establish an office in Cardiff.

Hardwickes

This firm started in Cardiff in 1910 and was a successful litigation firm acting for a number of insurance clients and the Solicitors Indemnity Fund. The merger created a firm with 23 partners.

Morgan Cole[]

In February 2010 the firm transferred from a partnership to a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).

January 2009 saw the merger with CIP Solicitors of Bristol[5] and later that year the acquisition of the majority of the insurance team from rival firm Leo Abse and Cohen. This followed the acquisition in 2008 of Bristol-based insurance specialist CIP Solicitors and the transfer of a 10-strong team of Insurance specialists from Gloucester-based firm Tayntons.

Morgan Cole's offices in Swansea's SA1 development

The firm was awarded the Lexcel quality standard by the Law Society of England and Wales in December 2008.[citation needed]

A Bristol office opened in 2007.

In 2003, the firm moved into its new 24,000 sq ft (2,200 m2) offices in Swansea – the first private sector investment in the development at SA1 Swansea Waterfront. In the same year, Robin Havard became chairman of the firm and was re-elected for a third three-year term in 2009.

Bruce Potter chaired the firm's board, which comprised Elizabeth Carr (Managing Partner), Catharine Bray (Finance Director), Michael Prior (Commercial Director), and Michael Stace and Philip Jardine, both partners at the firm.

Blake Lapthorn[]

Blake Lapthorn was a full-service law firm now operating under the name of Blake Morgan LLP. The firm provided legal solutions to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit and government clients. Founded in 1869 by Alfred Starling Blake, the firm originated in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and expanded with offices in Southampton, Reading, London, Oxford and Cardiff. 1869 - Alfred Starling Blake founds A. S. Blake Solicitor on 25 February 1869. Offices open at 40 High Street, Gosport, and 21 Union Street, Portsea.

1877 - Henry Reed joins as partner. Firm changes name to Blake & Reed.

1883 - Thomas Henry Field Lapthorn becomes partner and firm changes name to Blake, Reed & Lapthorn. Henry Reed dies.

1885 - Founding partner Alfred Starling Blake elected Lord Mayor of Portsmouth.

1892 - Alfred Starling Blake dies on 4 March 1892 aged 44. As Mayor of Portsmouth 1885-86 he laid the foundation stone of Portsmouth Guildhall.

1903 - Leonard Nicholson Blake, son of Alfred Starling Blake, becomes partner.

1922 - Firm changes name to Blake Lapthorn & Roberts after Samuel Pugh Roberts becomes partner in 1921.

1935 - Thomas Lapthorn dies.

1930 - Frederick Cyril Rea joins as partner and firm becomes Blake Lapthorn Roberts & Rea.

1933 - Fareham office opens.

1938 - Leonard Nicholson Blake follows in his father's footsteps as elected Lord Mayor of Portsmouth 1938-39. Nora Woodfall Blake (née Lapthorn), becomes Lady Mayoress.

1944 - Leonard Nicholson Blake dies.

1947 - Keith Nicholson Blake, eldest son of Leonard Blake and nephew of Thomas Lapthorn, and Hubert Glyn Williams become partners.

1949 - Alfred Lapthorn Blake, second son of Leonard Blake and Nora Woodfall Blake (née Lapthorn), becomes partner.

1958 - Alfred Lapthorn Blake becomes Lord Mayor of Portsmouth.

1961 - Waterlooville office opens.

1962 - David Wallace Russell becomes partner and firm changes name to Blake Lapthorn Rea & Williams.

1963 - Havant office opens.

1965 - Keith Blake dies.

1966 - David Anthony Collins and Raymond John Vincent become partners.

1969 - North End office opens. Colin Peter Barlow and Michael Joseph Burridge become partners. Centenary dinner held at Portsmouth Guildhall on 28 February 1969.

1971 - Carey Stuart Blake and Michael David Jackson Profit become partners.

1972 - Lee-on-the-Solent office opens.

1973 - Samuel Pugh Roberts dies.

1974 - Charles Richard Hewitt becomes a partner. Frederick Rea dies.

1976 - Southampton office opens. David George Tusler, Charles John Scragg and Stephen Edward Murfitt become partners.

1979 - Donald Agnew becomes partner.

1980 - London office opens at 5 Clifford Street.

1981 - Caroline Ann Williams, David Roger Glyde Higham and Maxwell Charles Craft become partners. Caroline is the first female partner. Firm is amalgamated with its London agents Robbins Olivey & Lake at 218 The Strand. David Reginald Alexander Fishwick becomes partner. Firm renamed Robbins Olivey & Blake Lapthorn (in London).

1983 - Firm renamed Blake Lapthorn in May 1983. Firm has 10 offices, 17 partners and total team of approximately 250. Hubert Glyn Williams retires.

1984 - John James Mitchell becomes partner.

1985 - Sir Alfred Lapthorn Blake retires.

1986 - Christopher John Taunt becomes partner.

1987 - Walter Jenn Bang Cha becomes partner.

1988 - Deborah Jane Castle, Gillian Ellis and Jane Mary Halton become partners.

1990 - Segensworth office opens. Susan Dryden, Alison Jane McClure and Mary Louise Chant become partners.

1992 - Philip Mervyn Harwood-Smart, John Harvard Britten and Nicholas Charles Poole become partners.

1993 - Richard Alan Portlock and Peter Mark Shepherd become partners.

1994 - Peter William Brian Barber, Barry John Stimpson and Bradley Albuery become partners.

1996 - New Portsmouth office (Harbour Court) opens, concluding relocation of the old Portsmouth, North End, Havant, Waterlooville and Gosport offices.

2003 - Blake Lapthorn merges with Linnells to create a 79-partner firm under the name Blake Lapthorn Linnell.

2005 - Blake Lapthorn Linnell mergers with 12-partner Portsmouth practice Sherwin Oliver.

2006 - Blake Lapthorn Linnell merges with White & Bowker and then IP/IT firm Tarlo Lyons in the same year.

2013 - Sir Alfred Lapthorn Blake KCVO, MC, DL dies on 17 November 2013 aged 98.

2014 - Blake Lapthorn merged with Morgan Cole to form Blake Morgan LLP.

2019 - The firm celebrated 150 years.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "History facts and figures". Blake Morgan. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Blake Morgan". Chambers and Partners. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  3. ^ "What we do". Blake Morgan LLP. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Blake Morgan – True Picture | Chambers Student Guide". chambersstudent.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  5. ^ Barry, Sion (1 July 2014). "Law firms Morgan Cole and Blake Lapthorn go live with new legal powerhouse Blake Morgan". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2 September 2020.

Source for Blake Lapthorn[]

External links[]

Retrieved from ""