Morgan Cole
Encyclopedia
Morgan Cole LLP is a large full-service commercial law firm
with offices in Cardiff
, Swansea
, Bristol
, Reading
and Oxford
in the United Kingdom
. It is ranked 70th in the UK's top 200 law law firms. It employs approximately 340 lawyers and 210 other staff. It has 55 partners. It is registered with the Law Society of England and Wales
.
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.
(LLP).
January 2009 saw the merger with CIP Solicitors of Bristol
and later than 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.
The firm was awarded the Lexcel
quality standard by the Law Society of England and Wales
in December 2008.
A Bristol
office was opened in 2007.
In 2003, the firm moved into its new 24000 sq ft (2,229.7 m²) offices in Swansea
- the first private sector investment in the prestigious 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.
Robin Havard chairs the firm's Board comprising Elizabeth Carr (Managing Partner), Catharine Bray (Finance Director), Tim Pashley (Commercial Director), and Bruce Potter and Nigel Griffiths, both partners at the firm.
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.
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.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
with offices in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is ranked 70th in the UK's top 200 law law firms. It employs approximately 340 lawyers and 210 other staff. It has 55 partners. It is registered with the Law Society of England and Wales
Law Society of England and Wales
The Law Society is the professional association that represents the solicitors' profession in England and Wales. It provides services and support to practising and training solicitors as well as serving as a sounding board for law reform. Members of the Society are often consulted when important...
.
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.
Main practice areas
Morgan Cole's main practice areas include:- Banking and Finance
- Business support and insolvency
- Commercial
- Commercial property
- Competition
- Construction
- Corporate
- Debt recovery
- Dispute management
- Education
- Employment, pensions and benefits
- Energy and environment
- Equality
- Family and Private Client
- Health and Social Care
- Housing associations
- Insurance
- IP / IT
History
Morgan Cole was formed by the merger of Morgan Bruce and Cole & Cole in 1998. A brief history of each of the original firms is set out below.Most recently
In February 2010 the firm transferred from a partnership to a Limited Liability PartnershipLimited liability partnership
A limited liability partnership is a partnership in which some or all partners have limited liability. It therefore exhibits elements of partnerships and corporations. In an LLP one partner is not responsible or liable for another partner's misconduct or negligence. This is an important...
(LLP).
January 2009 saw the merger with CIP Solicitors of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
and later than 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
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
-based firm Tayntons.
The firm was awarded the Lexcel
Lexcel
Lexcel was introduced by The Law Society of England and Wales in 1998 as a mark of quality in relation to legal practice management standards. Until 2010, the Lexcel standard was attainable by law firms and in-house legal departments in England and Wales. A separate franchised scheme was available...
quality standard by the Law Society of England and Wales
Law Society of England and Wales
The Law Society is the professional association that represents the solicitors' profession in England and Wales. It provides services and support to practising and training solicitors as well as serving as a sounding board for law reform. Members of the Society are often consulted when important...
in December 2008.
A Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
office was opened in 2007.
In 2003, the firm moved into its new 24000 sq ft (2,229.7 m²) offices in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
- the first private sector investment in the prestigious development at SA1 Swansea Waterfront
SA1 Swansea Waterfront
SA1 Swansea Waterfront is the marketing name given to the brownfield development area located in northern part of Swansea Docks. The area is located directly to the southeast of Swansea city centre. It is bordered by the Fabian Way to the north and covers the Prince of Wales Dock area.The...
. In the same year, Robin Havard became chairman of the firm and was re-elected for a third three-year term in 2009.
Robin Havard chairs the firm's Board comprising Elizabeth Carr (Managing Partner), Catharine Bray (Finance Director), Tim Pashley (Commercial Director), and Bruce Potter and Nigel Griffiths, both partners at the firm.
Cole & Cole
Cole & Cole was formed in OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1945 by two brothers, Raymond Buxton Cole and Maurice Buxton Cole and quickly spread throughout Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
partly by the opening of new offices and partly by merger. In particular the Abingdon
Abingdon
Abingdon may refer to the following places:In Australia :* Abingdon, Queensland, a place in Northern QueenslandIn Britain:*Abingdon, Oxfordshire**Abingdon School**Abingdon Abbey**Abingdon Lock**Abingdon Bridge**Abingdon Air & Country Show...
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
Burford
Burford is a small town on the River Windrush in the Cotswold hills in west Oxfordshire, England, about west of Oxford, southeast of Cheltenham and only from the Gloucestershire boundary...
in 1966 and the firm of Francis Wickins & Hill in Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold is a market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It is situated on top of an 800 ft hill, at the convergence of a number of major roads through the Cotswolds, including the Fosse Way . The town was founded as a planned market place by Norman lords to take...
in 1982.
Most of the expansion of the firm resulted from sustained growth within Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
which led to the opening of a dedicated commercial department in Kidlington
Kidlington
Kidlington is a large village and civil parish between the River Cherwell and the Oxford Canal, north of Oxford and southwest of Bicester.-History:...
in 1984, a specialist matrimonial, crown and magistrates court department in Cambridge Terrace, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and a commercial and litigation office in Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
in 1987. In addition, a Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
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
Thames Valley
The Thames Valley Region is a loose term for the English counties and towns roughly following the course of the River Thames as it flows from Oxfordshire in the west to London in the east. It includes parts of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, North Hampshire, Surrey and west London...
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
Amey plc
Amey plc, previously known as Amey Ltd and Amey Roadstone Construction, is a United Kingdom based infrastructure support service provider. It was once listed on the London Stock Exchange but since 2003 it has been a subsidiary of Spanish company Grupo Ferrovial, S.A....
, British Alcan, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of nuclear fusion power. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and was formerly chaired by Lady Barbara Judge CBE...
, The Police Federation, Equal Opportunities Commission
Equal Opportunities Commission
The Equal Opportunities Commission was an independent non-departmental public body, in the United Kingdom, which tackled sex discrimination and promoted gender equality...
and Xerox
Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
to name but a few.
Cole & Cole had obtained a Legal Aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
franchise and accreditation with ISO9001.
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
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
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
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
, 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
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
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
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
following the depression of the thirties. Sir Gerald was Lord Lieutenant of the County of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
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
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
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.