CELEBRATING Clayton Utz We have undergone many changes since then. However the essence of Clayton Utz, expressed in the personal qualities of our founding father George Robert Nichols, remains very much the same. Among his many virtues, Nichols was known for his legal astuteness, his passion for justice, and his desire to improve his community. These are qualities for which Clayton Utz is still known, and it is with great pride that we reflect on the contribution that George Robert Nichols and the individuals who followed in his footsteps have made in making Clayton Utz the firm we are today. In an increasingly competitive legal market, Clayton Utz consistently stands out for the quality of our legal work and our people. Our commitment to the community is also an important part of who we are, and we are proud of our Community Connect program which reaches out to hundreds of individuals and organisations across the country through pro bono legal work, financial assistance through grants, and volunteering. We thank our people for their ongoing support of the program, and for the investment they have made and continue to make in our firm. In celebrating 175 years of legal service to the Australian community, One hundred and seventy five years ago, the we also acknowledge the enormous contribution of the many people who over the years have helped to build the Clayton Utz community. foundations were laid for what today is one From a one-man firm in colonial Sydney, we are now a truly national of Australia’s greatest law firms - our firm, firm with 216 partners and over 950 lawyers in six offices around Australia, servicing the needs of our many valued and loyal clients whenever - and wherever - they are doing business. We thank and acknowledge the support of these clients, who continue to make us Clayton Utz their law firm of choice. We are proud to be a part of Clayton Utz and look Linda Evans David Fagan forward to further progress of the firm as it enters its Board Chair Chief Executive Partner next 175 years. 1 A legal pioneer George Robert Nichols was a son of the colony’s first postmaster and the first our history native-born Australian to be admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales. Nichols was a complex and intriguing man, whose great passion for life and for 1833 - 1920 social causes was offset by a cool legal mind and an endearing personal charm. Upon being admitted to practice, Nichols established his own one-man practice In 1833 a young man with passion and vision in Pitt Street and began to build a reputation for his “disciplined legal astuteness, was admitted to legal practice. That man laid the which subsequently placed him far before any of his professional competitors”. foundations for what would become one of Australia’s The practice grew steadily and George took on a partner, John Williams, in 1842, with whom he remained in partnership for many years. leading law firms - our firm,Clayton Utz. A thriving legal practice was not enough for Nichols’ energy and drive. He became a forceful and far-sighted advocate for the advancement of early colonial society, and he entered into journalism. His editorship of The Australian began in the “Before the commencement of the business of the Supreme Court late 1830s and for years he adroitly juggled the twin responsibilities of law and on Monday, Mr Wentworth moved that Mr G R Nichols might commerce. He used the broadsheet to promote self-government for the colony, the be admitted as an Attorney of that Court. abolition of the transportation of convicts to New South Wales, and the integration Chief Justice (The Hon. Francis Forbes) - Let George Robert Nichols, of emancipated convicts into civil society. He also argued against the separation of the legal profession into barristers and solicitors. His desire to improve the society gentleman, be enrolled as an Attorney of this Honourable Court. in which he lived led him to enter Parliament in 1848. I believe, Mr Nichols, you are the first Australian that has been admitted in this Court. Nichols thus lived three public lives - lawyer, journalist and politician - and he Mr Nichols - I am, your Honor. threw himself into all three with determination and imagination. His early death in Chief Justice - The Court feel (sic) much pleasure in admitting you.” 1857 robbed colonial Sydney of one of its most notable figures. Extract from The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 July 1833 1833 1842 1857 1872 Our founding father George Nichols & Williams established. George Robert Nichols dies. Driver & Merriman formed. Robert Nichols admitted to practice Richard Driver acquires his practice. in NSW. 2 Nichols & Williams Driver & Merriman partnership with his father, the practice becoming known as John H. Clayton & Son. In 1842, Nichols entered into partnership with In 1872, George Merriman joined Driver to form John Williams. Nichols & Williams occupied premises Driver & Merriman. They went their separate ways in Legal practice was certainly very different in those at 61 Pitt Street, where the firm would stay for 1876. Merriman entered NSW Parliament in 1887 but days. One of the firm’s early partners, William Percy 52 years. Williams later became Crown Solicitor, a his health failed after a couple of years. Walters, recalled that in 1918 the firm had one position he held for 31 years. He also served as the telephone which was fixed to the wall of the client’s first President of what is now the Law Society of The first Clayton waiting room, which also served as the office boys’ New South Wales. office. At that time John H. Clayton & Son had a John Horatio Clayton was the first Clayton of staff of seven. Upon Nichols’ death in 1857, his practice was Clayton Utz. He was articled to Richard Driver, and acquired by Richard Driver, who had been articled admitted as a solicitor in 1879. Driver held Clayton Hector J.R. Clayton served in World War I and, on his to Nichols & Williams. The practice thrived under in such high regard that he left him his legal practice return in December 1919, his father retired from active Driver’s leadership. Among its notable clients was upon his death. Clayton excelled at the law and practice. John Horatio Clayton died at his home at the Tattersall’s Club, for which Driver drafted its first shared Driver’s love of cricket. He conducted the Arncliffe on 18 May 1925, aged 70. constitution and of which he became Chairman. practice in his own name - John H. Clayton - from the same premises. Driver’s love of cricket involved him in the preservation of Sydney Common, which became In 1894, John H. Clayton moved the firm to the Centennial Park and Moore Park. Driver Avenue, newly-built City Bank Chambers at 164 Pitt Street, in front of the Sydney Cricket Ground, was named between King and Pitt Streets. This was to be the in Driver’s honour. Some 148 years later, Clayton Utz firm’s home until 1920. George Robert Nichols Richard Driver John Horatio Clayton counts the Centennial & Moore Park Trusts among its clients. Driver died in 1880 and the New South Clayton took Percy John Pratt as a partner in Wales Parliament, the Water Police Court and the 1896 to form Clayton & Pratt, before Pratt moved Central Police Court were all adjourned for a day as a to Wollongong in 1909 as a sole practitioner. “I give, devise and bequeath unto John Horatio mark of respect. In 1911, Clayton’s son Hector Joseph Richard Clayton..... my business of a Solicitor....” Clayton was admitted to practice and went into First clause of the Last Will and Testament of Richard Driver, 1880 1880 1896 1911 1920 John Horatio Clayton inherits Clayton & Pratt formed. John H. Clayton’s son Hector John H. Clayton & Son merges with the firm Driver’s practice. Renames it Joseph Richard Clayton is admitted of Harold Stewart (“Barney”) Utz, Mackenzie John H. Clayton. to practice. John H. Clayton and Mackenzie, to become Clayton & Utz. & Son formed. The firm relocates to the Bank of New South Wales Chambers at 280 Castlereagh Street. 3 Clayton meets Utz John H. Clayton & Son occupied the same floor of City Bank Chambers our history as the practice of Harold Stewart Utz, known as Mackenzie and Mackenzie, Solicitors. 1920 - 1983 In 1920 the two firms merged to form Clayton & Utz and relocated to Bank of New South Wales Chambers at 280 Castlereagh Street. In 1924, the firm became Clayton Utz & Company with the admission to the partnership of Roy Leverton Head and Walter George Tester, who had Roy Leverton Head both been articled to Clayton & Utz. Some nine years later, the size of the practice meant a move to new premises - Derwent House at 136 Liverpool Street. This remained the firm’s home for the next 43 years. An era of steady growth: the post-war years In the years following World War II, Clayton Utz & Company grew in both size and expertise. In 1951, Andrew Midwood Clayton (a son of Walter George Tester Hector J.R. Clayton) and Peter Stewart Utz (son of Harold Stewart Utz) were among those who joined the partnership. By the early 1970s, the firm had 12 partners and over 100 staff. As the 80s dawned, Clayton Utz & Company had truly become a full service firm, specialising in banking and finance, corporate, commercial property and litigation work, for predominantly corporate and commercial clients. 1924 1933 1951 1958 The firm changes its name to The firm relocates to Derwent Andrew Midwood Clayton (a son of Harold Stewart (“Barney”) Utz dies.