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Ashurst hires professor to explore firm’s 200-year history

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Releases new book

Ashurst’s co-founder William Henry Ashurst by Thomas Goff Lupton, after Henry Perronet Briggs 1943 (credit Wikimedia)

City outfit Ashurst has commissioned a historian to tell the 200-year history of the firm, marking its anniversary this year.

Stuart Kells, adjunct professor at La Trobe University’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Commerce in Australia, was tasked with distilling the firm’s history since 1822 into a new book titled Ashurst: The Story of a Progressive Global law Firm.

The firm was co-founded by William Ashurst who was greatly involved in his day’s radical causes of gender equality and the abolition of slavery and capital punishment.

According to Kells, the book is “an honest, rich and multifaceted record of a crucial slice of the global history of law, society and commerce”, with chapters spanning the firm’s early history in England and Australia, merit and inclusion (‘An Absolute Meritocracy’), life in the office (‘What do I do?’), and dress (‘A Truly Modern Solicitor’). There’s even a chapter on food and celebrations which is intriguingly titled ‘A Marvellous Banquet with Haggis’!

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Kells said that researching and writing the book, which will set you back around £50, was “a pleasure and a privilege”. He adds: “Seeing now the completed book—the output of a collaborative effort that extended to all corners of the world—is a great reward.”

Kells’s research included “extensive” interviews with current and former Ashurst people around the world as the book seeks to tease out the theme of change which the historian suggests has accelerated both in the firm and the legal profession over the last forty years.

Commenting on their 200th anniversary, Ashurst said: “Imagine what our London founder William Henry Ashurst would think if he could see the firm today. He and his family championed progressive ideas so he would not be surprised to see the global reach, our deep relationships with our clients, nor the changes in legal practice and technology. He would be proud of our focus on pro bono and CSR.”

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9 Comments

Just my two cents

One of the oldest firms in the City and the English-speaking world. That’s pretty cool, as is that the firm continues to be a nice and fun (as law firms go) place to work at.

And before someone squeals, I’m not a member of the firm’s HR, just an NQ that likes their job at Ashurst.

(33)(10)

Now we have 4 cents

Fair enough. Horrible people to have on the other side. Die in a ditch over the most minor points every time I am on the other side, counterproductive towards getting any form of deal done and partners get overly animated about stuff (its a deal… im not shooting your dog).

(20)(7)

KLAXON

Lmao thx fresher, better luck applying next time 😀

(6)(5)

Ashurst Trainee

How about they match HSF’S NQ rate rather than paying to commission a book no one will read…

(33)(3)

Qualify first yeah?

Pipe down and keep billing, turd.

(17)(2)

James

I trained here and it’s a great firm. Partners and senior associates always willing to explain matters and tasks in detail. Technical training/expertise is second to none – you will actually develop negotiation and drafting skills as compared to US firms where it’s same PE precedent docs.

The only thing I would say is that they should increase NQ pay, but I think like MC firms they’ve invested so much in the US, maybe not enough money to go around!

(17)(7)

Old School Macs

Unusual to be the whippersnapper in the room. Fair play Ash.

(3)(0)

Bacon Buttie

There is already a book about the history of Ashurst, Ashurst Morris Crisp: A Radical Firm, and is only £15

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Maybe not enough money to go around

(0)(0)

Comments are closed.

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