100 years of practice in the law

Few legal firms can boast 100 years of practice in the law.

When Nicholas O’Donohue completed his employment with the late Maurice Blackburn, could he have foreseen that his Firm would last a century? It is interesting to note that both Maurice Blackburn & Co, a legal firm which celebrated its centenary in 2019 and Nicholas O’Donohue & Co, a legal firm which celebrates its centenary this year, are both firms which today still bear the names of their founders. However, from the outset, their specialities diverged with Maurice going down the political/union track and Nicholas concentrating on property, finance and commerce.

With a hundred years of practice, the firm has had many Partners. In its first 32 years some of the names of the partners were reflected in the firm’s name; for example: O’Donohue Brew & Green, O’Donohue & Lynch etc, but since 1957 the firm name has been Nicholas O’Donohue & Co. The firm operated from Capitol House at 109 Swanston Street Melbourne until 1957 when it moved to 493 Law Courts Place, and since then it has been located at 180 Queen Street and most recently at 140 William Street.

The stability and expertise of both its professional and support staff has been a hallmark of the firm. One classic example of the longevity of its employees is the late Edna Britt who completed more than 60 years at the firm earning herself an enviable reputation in property law and conveyancing transactions.

The firm has embraced the changes to regulations and technology to deliver legal services more efficiently, for the benefit of its clients. Several changes implemented by the profession have been the result of the direct suggestion of the firm. As with any organisation which lasts a century, the firm had to be resilient having survived the Great Depression, a World War, Financial Recessions, and more recently 9/11 and Covid-19.

The adage is apt: You are not good because you are old; you are old because you are good.