Temple Heelis Celebrates 200th Anniversary
Leading Lakeland Law Firm Temple Heelis’s 200th anniversary year has culminated in a professional networking evening following a series of themed activities throughout 2022. Earlier in the year, a staff Bake Off produced an array of delicious home-made cakes and, more recently, a competition was held for local schools to submit Peter Rabbit-themed drawing in recognition of the firm’s close association with Beatrix Potter (who married a former senior partner, William Heelis).
Founded in 1822, Temple Heelis provides legal services to the South Cumbrian communities by offering expertise in Private Client (Wills, Trusts, Tax and Estates), Rural and Agricultural, Commercial Property, Commercial and Contract services, Residential Property, Disputes and Litigation, and Family (Matrimonial, Pre-Nuptial Agreements, Separation, Divorce and Children). The firm is ranked as a leading UK firm by both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners in their independently researched annual guides.
Welcoming guests to the 200th anniversary networking evening, Managing Partner James Hamilton said “While we have a long and proud history, our focus is on the future with particular emphasis on our human capital strategy.” Mr Hamilton described how the firm is committed to its role of recruiting and training high quality solicitors for the future, recognising that not everyone chooses to take the traditional approach of a training contract. “We are supporting several young professionals through the Solicitors Apprenticeship at UCLAN, for example, and working with Kendal College supporting a colleague on the Business Administration apprentice programme.”
To emphasise the firm’s commitment to the future, Mr Hamilton invited the firm’s youngest member of staff (Mitchell Bennett, currently undertaking the Business Administration apprenticeship) and the firm’s most recently promoted Associate (Lucy Benton, head of commercial property) to slice the 200th anniversary cake.
The evening saw a wide range of regional professionals join the firm in celebrating such a milestone in its history. Surveyors, land agents, architects, planning consultants, accountants, financial advisers, bankers and representatives from business organisations such as Cumbria Tourism and the Chamber of Trade all raised a glass to the firm’s future in a toast proposed by former partner Richard Brownson.
Delving back into the firm’s archives, Mr Brownson spoke of the firm’s first office in Hawkshead and the four generations of Heelis family members who had served the local communities as highly respected lawyers. The last Heelis – William (who married Beatrix Potter) – died in 1945 after which Mr Brownson’s father bought the practice and started his family’s role as local lawyers.
Back in 1822 when the firm was founded, Mr Brownson pointed out that cars had not been invented, Queen Victoria was not yet on the throne, solicitors used quill pens rather than computers, and a journey from London to Hawkshead was about 3 days!
This theme was echoed by James Hamilton who mentioned that Temple Heelis was 9 times older than Google and 10 times longer established than Facebook!
“Today”, concluded Mr Hamilton, “the firm has invested heavily in technology and recently purchased its Kendal premises in a strong vote of confidence for the future.