Wikipedia

Thomson Snell & Passmore

Thomson Snell & Passmore is a law firm in Kent, in the United Kingdom. It holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest continually operating law firm still in existence.[5][6][7][8][9] Some of the documents retained by the firm have been used in the television series Downton Abbey to lend an air of authenticity to the show.[8]

Thomson Snell & Passmore
HeadquartersTunbridge Wells
No. of offices2
No. of attorneys130[1]
No. of employees242[1]
Major practice areasGeneral Practice
Key peopleSenior Partner – Joanna Pratt[2] CEO – Sarah Henwood[3]
Revenue£21.2m (2018)[1][4]
Date founded1570; 454 years ago (1570)
FounderNicholas Hooper
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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In 1570 a curate of the Tonbridge Parish Church by the name of Nicholas Hooper announced himself as a "scrivener and drafter of documents".[5][6][7][8] He supplemented his ecclesiastical stipend by drafting wills and property bonds,[6] and taking advantage of the expansion of merchant activity under the reign of Elizabeth I of England.[8] Hooper's son John took over the practice in 1618,[6] and the firm stayed in the family until John's descendant George Hooper died in 1759.[8]

After George Hooper's death the firm was acquired by Thomas Scoons of Tonbridge, who also controlled the Pantiles.[6][8] He passed it to his son, William Scoons, who was joined by his own sons William Junior and John Scoons.[10] In the 1850s the Scoons family died off, leaving the firm to a partner, Sydney Alleyne.[10] The firm was known as Alleyne & Walker during the Victorian era.[6] In 1890 it was taken over by John Thomas Freer, becoming Alleyne Morgan & Freer.[6] In 1939 the firm was bought by another firm, Templar & Passmore.[6] The firm acquired its current name in 1968.[7]

Frederick Alfred Snell, the son of the founder of one of the firms that merged to create the current firm, held the record for the oldest practising solicitor in England at his death at the age of 96 in 1954.[5][6]

Practice areas

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As of 2017, Thomson Snell & Passmore operates in the areas of wills, trusts, and estates, property law, and commercial law, as they have since 1570.[11][12][13][14] In addition they offer a wide variety of modern services to both individuals and businesses.

In recent years they have expanded their focus on commercial clients, with a 25.5% growth in income from commercial clients in the first half of 2016.[4] During the same time period, the firm's private client practice grew by 7%.[4] Growth continued in the latter part of 2016, despite concerns about the effect Brexit would have on the British economy.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Key Facts". Thomson Snell & Passmore. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Joanna Pratt". Thomson Snell & Passmore. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Sarah Henwood". Thomson Snell & Passmore. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Price, Chris (26 June 2016). "Thomson Snell & Passmore net profits up 20%". Kent Business. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Weiss, Debra (November 30, 2015). "This law firm is the world's oldest". ABA Journal. American Bar Association. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Price, Chris (19 November 2015). "Guinness World Record for oldest law firm in operation goes to Thomson Snell & Passmore, based in Tunbridge Wells and Dartford". Kent Business. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Oldest law firm: Thomson Snell & Passmore breaks Guinness World Records record". World Record Academy. November 22, 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Record books beckon for world's oldest legal firm". Times of Tunbridge Wells. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Oldest law firm in operation". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
  10. ^ a b "Thomson Snell & Passmore: a short history for a firm long on heritage". Thomson Snell & Passmore. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  11. ^ "Wills, Trusts & Tax Planning". Thomson Snell and Passmore. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Residential Conveyancing". Thomson Snell & Passmore. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  13. ^ "Commercial Property & Development". Thomson Snell & Passmore. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Commercial". Thomson Snell & Passmore. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  15. ^ Price, Chris (12 December 2016). "Thomson Snell & Passmore grows revenues but remains cautious about Brexit impact". Kent Business. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
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