Blake Lapthorn
Blake Lapthorn is a full-service law firm now operating under the name of Blake Morgan LLP. The firm provides legal solutions to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit and government clients. Founded in 1869 by Alfred Starling Blake, the firm originated in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and expanded with offices in Southampton, Reading, London, Oxford and Cardiff.
History
1869 - Alfred Starling Blake founds A. S. Blake Solicitor on 25 February 1869. Offices open at 40 High Street, Gosport, and 21 Union Street, Portsea.
1877 - Henry Reed joins as partner. Firm changes name to Blake & Reed.
1883 - Thomas Henry Field Lapthorn becomes partner and firm changes name to Blake, Reed & Lapthorn. Henry Reed dies.
1885 - Founding partner Alfred Starling Blake elected Lord Mayor of Portsmouth.
1892 - Alfred Starling Blake dies on 4 March 1892 aged 44. As Mayor of Portsmouth 1885-86 he laid the foundation stone of Portsmouth Guildhall.
1903 - Leonard Nicholson Blake, son of Alfred Starling Blake, becomes partner.
1922 - Firm changes name to Blake Lapthorn & Roberts after Samuel Pugh Roberts becomes partner in 1921.
1935 - Thomas Lapthorn dies.
1930 - Frederick Cyril Rea joins as partner and firm becomes Blake Lapthorn Roberts & Rea.
1933 - Fareham office opens.
1938 - Leonard Nicholson Blake follows in his father's footsteps as elected Lord Mayor of Portsmouth 1938-39. Nora Woodfall Blake (née Lapthorn), becomes Lady Mayoress.
1944 - Leonard Nicholson Blake dies.
1947 - Keith Nicholson Blake, eldest son of Leonard Blake and nephew of Thomas Lapthorn, and Hubert Glyn Williams become partners.
1949 - Alfred Lapthorn Blake, second son of Leonard Blake and Nora Woodfall Blake (née Lapthorn), becomes partner.
1958 - Alfred Lapthorn Blake becomes Lord Mayor of Portsmouth.
1961 - Waterlooville office opens.
1962 - David Wallace Russell becomes partner and firm changes name to Blake Lapthorn Rea & Williams.
1963 - Havant office opens.
1965 - Keith Blake dies.
1966 - David Anthony Collins and Raymond John Vincent become partners.
1969 - North End office opens. Colin Peter Barlow and Michael Joseph Burridge become partners. Centenary dinner held at Portsmouth Guildhall on 28 February 1969.
1971 - Carey Stuart Blake and Michael David Jackson Profit become partners.
1972 - Lee-on-the-Solent office opens.
1973 - Samuel Pugh Roberts dies.
1974 - Charles Richard Hewitt becomes a partner. Frederick Rea dies.
1976 - Southampton office opens. David George Tusler, Charles John Scragg and Stephen Edward Murfitt become partners.
1979 - Donald Agnew becomes partner.
1980 - London office opens at 5 Clifford Street.
1981 - Caroline Ann Williams, David Roger Glyde Higham and Maxwell Charles Craft become partners. Caroline is the first female partner. Firm is amalgamated with its London agents Robbins Olivey & Lake at 218 The Strand. David Reginald Alexander Fishwick becomes partner. Firm renamed Robbins Olivey & Blake Lapthorn (in London).
1983 - Firm renamed Blake Lapthorn in May 1983. Firm has 10 offices, 17 partners and total team of approximately 250. Hubert Glyn Williams retires.
1984 - John James Mitchell becomes partner.
1985 - Sir Alfred Lapthorn Blake retires.
1986 - Christopher John Taunt becomes partner.
1987 - Walter Jenn Bang Cha becomes partner.
1988 - Deborah Jane Castle, Gillian Ellis and Jane Mary Halton become partners.
1990 - Segensworth office opens. Susan Dryden, Alison Jane McClure and Mary Louise Chant become partners.
1992 - Philip Mervyn Harwood-Smart, John Harvard Britten and Nicholas Charles Poole become partners.
1993 - Richard Alan Portlock and Peter Mark Shepherd become partners.
1994 - Peter William Brian Barber, Barry John Stimpson and Bradley Albuery become partners.
1996 - New Portsmouth office (Harbour Court) opens, concluding relocation of the old Portsmouth, North End, Havant, Waterlooville and Gosport offices.
2003 - Blake Lapthorn merges with Linnells to create a 79-partner firm under the name Blake Lapthorn Linnell.
2005 - Blake Lapthorn Linnell mergers with 12-partner Portsmouth practice Sherwin Oliver.
2006 - Blake Lapthorn Linnell merges with White & Bowker and then IP/IT firm Tarlo Lyons in the same year.
2013 - Sir Alfred Lapthorn Blake KCVO, MC, DL dies on 17 November 2013 aged 98.
2014 - Blake Lapthorn merges with Morgan Cole to form Blake Morgan.
2019 - The firm celebrates 150 years.
References
Private Notes: Hubert Glyn Williams, The History of Blake Lapthorn Solicitors
Portsmouth City Council, Lord Mayors of Portsmouth since 1927
History in Portsmouth, Alfred Starling Blake
Who's Who, Blake, Sir Alfred (Lapthorn)
The Law Society Gazette, "Blake Lapthorn and Linnells create new 79-partner firm" (21 March 2003)
The Lawyer, "Blake Lapthorn partners vote to save City office" (16 October 2006)