here - Hill Dickinson

Thanks to
the support of
our clients,
2010 marks
Hill Dickinson’s
200th year in
practice – a rare
milestone.
Building
on strong
foundations
“Being a keen follower of sport, I
fully recognise the importance of
team ethos in creating and
sustaining success. We at
Hill Dickinson are proud of our
past. The foundations laid by a
wide range of talented people
over the last 200 years have left a
lasting legacy which will be the
platform for our continued
development in to the future.”
Peter Jackson,
Managing Partner
Did you
know?
Hill Dickinson’s senior partner nearly died
on the Titanic!
The story goes that in 1911 the firm’s senior
partner, Norman Hill, received a knighthood
for services to the government.
The following year, clients of the firm,
White Star Line, invited Sir Norman and
his wife to be their first class guests on the
return maiden voyage of the Titanic to New
York. Sir Norman declined.
Had he accepted, like so many of his friends
and colleagues in the shipping industry, he
may never have returned.
There were 1317 passengers on board the
Titanic, of whom 819 lost their lives.
Claims after the incident followed, both
in the UK and the US, and Hill Dickinson’s
Sir Norman Hill and William Goffey acted
for the owners. With the assistance of Sir
Norman’s brother, Maurice Hill QC, they
also represented the owners at the wreck
inquiry.
A lucky escape for one of Hill Dickinson’s
finest!
Looking to
a bright
future
“We are extremely proud of our
history and development into a
successful contemporary firm,
which is built upon the strength
of our client partnerships. Clients
are our lifeblood, part of our
heritage and essential to our
future. We look forward to the
next chapter of our development
and to contributing to the future
prosperity of our clients, our
people, our communities and the
cities in which we operate.”
Tony Wilson,
Senior Partner

This commemorative logo was designed by
Louise Quarmby, a secretary in our Manchester
office, as part of our 200th year celebrations.
Hill Dickinson - our timeline
1810 Edward
Morral founds the Liverpool
legal practice, which is quickly
established as a leading
maritime law firm at a time
when Liverpool was widely
regarded as the second port
of the British Empire.
1865
The firm’s identity as
‘Hill Dickinson’ begins
to emerge when
John Edward Gray
Hill joins.
John Edward Gray Hill
1912
Hill Dickinson is
retained by the
owners of RMS
Titanic following
the vessel’s
sinking.
1915
Following the highprofile
torpedoing of
RMS Lusitania,
Hill Dickinson acts on
behalf of the vessel’s
owners.
1927
Miss Edith Berthen
joins the firm as one
of the first women in
Britain to qualify as a
solicitor.
1931
The firm is involved
with the William
Herbert Wallace
murder investigation,
the first instance in
British legal history
where an appeal had
been allowed after
re-examination of
evidence.
1929
London office
opens.
1940
The firm’s partners lead the fire-watching
during the second world war. A former
senior partner wrote: “....Many people
wonder why 10 Water Street [the firm’s
then Liverpool office]... was not burnt to
the ground in common with its bigger and
more modern neighbours. The answer lies
in the bravery of members of the staff, who
spent many nights fire-watching and kicking
incendiary bombs from the roof.”
1976
Long-standing senior
partner William Goffey
retires. He started
working for the firm in
1901 and finally retired
after 75 years of loyal
service.
1997
Chester office opens.
1997
Manchester office
opens.
2006
Piraeus office opens.
Hill Dickinson is one of
the first law firms to
achieve carbon zero
status for offsetting
carbon emmissions.
2007
Finance director Colin
Wardale skydives for
charity raising over
£20,000!
2008
The firm moves into
prestigious, state
of the art Liverpool
offices at No 1. St
Paul’s Square.
2009
Singapore office
opens.
Happy 200th
birthday
Hill Dickinson!
200 years
a bright future
built on strong
foundations
www.hilldickinson.com/2010
www.hilldickinson.com