3 August 2010: Maddocks is marking its 125th year in 2010 and the firm has kicked off celebrations with birthday cakes in both Melbourne and Sydney.
"While much has changed in 125 years, some things like Maddocks' reputation for ethical, high-quality legal advice and exceptional client service, have not," said Employment, Safety & People partner (and 125 Years Committee Chair) Ross Jackson.
"Stewardship is important at Maddocks and we all look forward to building a firm that will last another 125 years and beyond," he said.
Maddocks began when Joe Maddock and Arthur Johnson founded the firm on 1 August 1885 at the height of Melbourne’s land boom.
For much of the twentieth century it was dominated by two families – the Lonies and Chisholms – and was known as Maddock Lonie & Chisholm from 1940. Lyston Chisholm's son Don Chisholm OAM (pictured) still works at the firm in the Private Clients practice.
The firm survived the depression of the 1930s and the mergers of the 1980s to reposition itself in the 1990s as a modern and sophisticated law practice which, in 2002, expanded to Sydney and by then numbered 200 people.
In 2010 Maddocks is made up by almost 60 partners and a total of 400 people - 300 people in Melbourne and almost 100 in Sydney, the majority of whom are women.
A published history, 'To Build a Firm: The Maddocks Story' will be released next week.
Celebratory events are underway and in September everyone at Maddocks will celebrate together at a gala dinner at Malvern Town Hall (which is also 125 years old this year).
Media Contact:
Penelope Thomas
Manager - Insights & Campaigns
Tel 61 3 8615 0337
media@maddocks.com.au