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One hundred years of history and progress
(continued)
The next major change came soon after with a joint
working arrangement which led to the creation of Barnes Roffe in 1973.
Roffe Swayne had been founded by Henry John Roffe in
about 1931 and had offices in Godalming, Haslemere and Lincolns Inn Fields.
When partner John Wakeham (now Lord Wakeham) left with his staff and clients,
the other partners — Henry Roffe’s son, John Roffe, Gerald Elliott
(one day), and Gerald Bartlett — moved with their staff into the top floor
at 24 Bedford Row.
After about two years, Roffe Swayne merged its London
practice with W H Barnes, forming Barnes Roffe with John Roffe joining the
Barnes Roffe partners but remaining as a partner of the Surrey- based Roffe
Swayne practice. The arrangement lasted until 1987 when John Roffe left the
London practice.
With Neville Sassienie at the helm, the practice had
opened a second office at Walthamstow in 1978. This was headed by Peter Bonnell
who had joined the firm as personal assistant to one of the partners at Holborn
the previous year.
This office moved to bigger premises in Hoe Street four
years later and to even larger premises in High Road, Leyton, in 1990 —
the same year that the Dartford office opened.
Meanwhile the Uxbridge office had opened in 1985 at
Highbridge House but a fire in April 1991 saw it move to the Brook Business
Centre in November 1991 by which time it had reconstructed all its files thanks
to the efforts of its staff. The Dartford office moved to bigger premises in
the Copperfields centre in 1994. Two years later, the Holborn and East London
offices merged at Leyton to provide an even better service for
clients.
At the end of this period, Neville Sassieinie retired
as senior partner. He was replaced in 1993 by Peter Bonnell under whose
leadership the firm continued to expand and develop.
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Developments since 1999
In 2001 a new steering committee was instigated in place
of the Senior Partner's role under the Chairmanship of Gordon Train.
The firm is still continuing to expand, currently having
twelve partners, 100 staff and four offices.
On 1 October 2003 the firm decided to incorporate and
became Barnes Roffe LLP, a limited liability partnership.
This new corporate vehicle has been adopted or will be
adopted by the majority of professional practises in accordance with modern
business practice. |