“1484–2020 A Chronicle of County Lawyers A history of the evolution of mfg Solicitors LLP The West Midlands Solicitors”
By Jim Quinn
I think that Members of the Worcestershire Law Society will be interested in the history that Jim Quinn has written. Its title appears to claim that mfg Solicitors LLP has been evolving as a firm of solicitors since 1484, the third year of the reign of King Richard III. If that is so, it would make them the oldest firm of lawyers in the world!
Jim’s time and research has paid dividends. Meticulous attention to detail has enabled Jim to piece together the numerous component parts of the Firm that exists today. It provides a full description of the firm of mfg in its various earlier guises, Bird & Day, Day & Ivens, Ivens & Morton, Morton Fisher and eventually mfg, (Morton Fisher & Gwynne). The history mainly recounts the way in which the firm developed in Kidderminster from 1960 to date and how it has joined up with 13 other firms in that time. That time of course covers the period that Jim has been working for or was a partner of the Firm. The book is decorated with photographs taken by one of mfg partners, Peter Simner and by copies of etchings taken from Nash History of Worcestershire (1781)
Jim has taken as his main theme the way in which he witnessed and was involved in the development of the Firm particularly through the 70s and 80s when all in Worcestershire were trying to come to terms with the new world of technology and Maggie Thatcher! Anyone who was a partner during or shortly after that period will find many harmonics to savour, and perhaps information that may satisfy a longstanding puzzlement as to how they did what they did. It is written in a plain and realistic way with an intention to reveal events and thoughts rather than to explore the finer points of the written English language. It really is very readable and I am sure will be of interest to Solicitors who have known mfg (and its previous incarnations) over the years
Members will recall that The Society honoured Jim in 2019 with the Lifetime Achievement Award and this book probably explains fully why that Award was given.
Jim tries to set some word pictures of what it was like in the various towns in which the firms forming mfg practiced when they first started, mainly in the mid-19th Century. The information and descriptions of Bewdley, where Jim seeks to justify his claim for 1484 as the firm’s starting point, is particularly interesting.
If you fancy spending a little time finding out how it all happened contact Jim on j.quinn789@btinternet.com or telephone him at his home at 01299 851021. – you can have a signed copy for £10!
Peter Simner
15.09.20