Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Encyclopedia
Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm
that operates in the Asia-Pacific
region. It is one of the 30 largest law firms in Australia
, and is widely regarded as one of the top commercial law firms in Australia.
Mallesons offices are also situated in Melbourne
, Perth
, Brisbane
, Canberra
, Hong Kong
, Beijing
, and London
. Mallesons also has a recent presence in Shanghai
, and an associated office in Port Moresby
.
As of 2007, the firm has over 2000 employees including approximately 1000 lawyers and over 200 partners.
The "Mallesons" part of the firm's name comes from one of the Melbourne founding partners - Alfred Brooks Malleson. Malleson was born at Richmond Hill, on the Surrey side of the Thames in 1831. As a 25-year-old London solicitor, Malleson borrowed £10 from his uncle to go to Melbourne, in 1856. Malleson was a leading practitioner. His obituary in The Argus in 1892 recorded that his expertise was especially "in company law and in the banking business. Several of the associated banks entrusted their legal affairs to the firm, as well as a large number of leading insurance and other companies, so that Mr Malleson had always as much as he could do".
In 1858, the firm (then called "Muttlebury Malleson and Coster") handled the legal work to establish "The National Bank of Australasia". Today National Australia Bank
remains one of the firm's key clients.
The "Stephen" part of the name comes from the Sydney founder - Montague Stephen. He was the second son of Sir Alfred Stephen who was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1844 to 1873. Montague Stephen founded the Sydney practice in 1849. One of his earliest (1853) clients was the "Australian Mutual Provident Society". Today AMP Limited remains one of the firm's key clients.
The "Jaques" part of the firm's name comes from a second "Alfred" - Alfred Jaques. He became a partner of the Sydney firm in 1878. In 1888 the firm's name changed to Stephen Jaques & Stephen - the name which continued until the 1980s.
The 1987 merger was driven by an assessment that Sydney, Australia's international business centre and largest city, and Melbourne, the traditional home to many of Australia’s major corporations and financial institutions, had become one legal market. This had happened as a result of advances in telecommunications and computer technologies. In addition, it was felt that the merger of the two firms - with their similar cultures and backgrounds, and with many shared clients - would give the firm the necessary depth of legal talent, and the level of technological and know-how support, to be able to assist key clients internationally, as well as in Australia. The merger enabled the firm to look after clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra.
in 1995.
In response to client demand the firm then significantly increased its Hong Kong office capability. In 2002 some of the firm's most experienced partners were relocated to Hong Kong.
In 2004 the firm strengthened its Beijing resources by taking on some lawyers and support staff from the former local office of Denton Wilde Sapte
. Later that year Mallesons merged with the Hong Kong/mainland China corporate boutique Kwok & Yih. Mallesons is today one of the top ten largest firms in Hong Kong.
In November 2011, Mallesons' partners reportedly voted to merge with Chinese firm King & Wood
in 2012.
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...
that operates in the Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
region. It is one of the 30 largest law firms in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and is widely regarded as one of the top commercial law firms in Australia.
Offices
Mallesons' Sydney office is in the Governor Macquarie and Governor Philip towers at 1 Farrer Place. The two buildings are situated between Young and Philip Streets. Farrer Place refers to the paved area and garden at the front of the building complex. Mallesons uses the top 10 levels in the Governor Philip Tower to house its lawyers and three levels in the Governor Macquarie Tower to house its support staff. The NSW Executive Government offices are also in the Governor Macquarie Tower, occupying the whole top half of the building.Mallesons offices are also situated in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Mallesons also has a recent presence in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, and an associated office in Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
.
As of 2007, the firm has over 2000 employees including approximately 1000 lawyers and over 200 partners.
'Mallesons Stephen Jaques'
In 1858, the firm (then called "Muttlebury Malleson and Coster") handled the legal work to establish "The National Bank of Australasia". Today National Australia Bank
National Australia Bank
National Australia Bank is one of the four largest financial institutions in Australia in terms of market capitalisation and customers. NAB is ranked 17th largest bank in the world measured by market capitalisation...
remains one of the firm's key clients.
The "Stephen" part of the name comes from the Sydney founder - Montague Stephen. He was the second son of Sir Alfred Stephen who was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1844 to 1873. Montague Stephen founded the Sydney practice in 1849. One of his earliest (1853) clients was the "Australian Mutual Provident Society". Today AMP Limited remains one of the firm's key clients.
The "Jaques" part of the firm's name comes from a second "Alfred" - Alfred Jaques. He became a partner of the Sydney firm in 1878. In 1888 the firm's name changed to Stephen Jaques & Stephen - the name which continued until the 1980s.
1974 Merger
In 1974, Stephen Jaques & Stephen merged with Davies Bailey & Cater of Canberra (Australia's national capital). This firm had been established in 1926 - pre-dating the opening of the Federal Parliament in Canberra. Soon after, in 1976, the firm established its London office.1982 Merger
In 1982, Stephen Jaques & Stephen merged with Stone James of Perth. The merged firm was called "Stephen Jaques Stone James". Stone James had been established in 1832 by a third "Alfred" - Alfred Stone, Western Australia’s first solicitor. The merger reflected the growing importance of the vast mineral resources of Western Australia and its large offshore energy projects.1987 Merger
In 1987, Stephen Jaques Stone James merged with Mallesons - and the firm adopted its present name of "Mallesons Stephen Jaques". At the time of the merger, Stephen Jaques Stone James - one of the leading Sydney based firms - had 79 partners and 251 solicitors (a total of 330 lawyers) and Mallesons - one of the leading Melbourne based firms - had 37 partners and 83 solicitors (a total of 120 lawyers).The 1987 merger was driven by an assessment that Sydney, Australia's international business centre and largest city, and Melbourne, the traditional home to many of Australia’s major corporations and financial institutions, had become one legal market. This had happened as a result of advances in telecommunications and computer technologies. In addition, it was felt that the merger of the two firms - with their similar cultures and backgrounds, and with many shared clients - would give the firm the necessary depth of legal talent, and the level of technological and know-how support, to be able to assist key clients internationally, as well as in Australia. The merger enabled the firm to look after clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra.
Asian expansion
The firm established its Hong Kong office in 1989 and Beijing office in 1993. The firm also established an "in association" relationship with Posman Kua Aisi Lawyers of Port Moresby, Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
in 1995.
In response to client demand the firm then significantly increased its Hong Kong office capability. In 2002 some of the firm's most experienced partners were relocated to Hong Kong.
In 2004 the firm strengthened its Beijing resources by taking on some lawyers and support staff from the former local office of Denton Wilde Sapte
Denton Wilde Sapte
Denton Wilde Sapte LLP was an international law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. On 26 May 2010, the firm announced that it had reached agreement to merge with the U.S.-based law firm Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal...
. Later that year Mallesons merged with the Hong Kong/mainland China corporate boutique Kwok & Yih. Mallesons is today one of the top ten largest firms in Hong Kong.
In November 2011, Mallesons' partners reportedly voted to merge with Chinese firm King & Wood
King & Wood
King & Wood PRC Lawyers is among the first law firms established when law firms were repermitted in the People’s Republic of China during the modern era...
in 2012.