About Us
Introduction to the firm
Our five key building blocks:
People:
Our clients say that they buy lawyers not law firms. Our people and their happiness is our priority. We foster an environment where they can flourish, where career paths and rewards are clear, achievement is celebrated and choice is available (eg flexible working arrangements).
Clients:
We have a very strong and loyal client base. The reason our clients say they come back to us year after year is that we offer sound commercial advice and an outstanding service ethic. They say that our lawyers are part of and integral to their business, as well as genuinely nice people.
Culture:
We are committed to retaining and encouraging a culture where innovation and creativity, a friendly and unstuffy atmosphere, work/life balance and confidence flourish.
Profile:
We have a very high profile in some areas, such as media, human rights and international work, predominately through Mark Stephens’ practice. Alan Kaufman is also a regular contributing to news outlets. However, we recognise that we need to be more vocal about our achievements in other areas we excel in such as property and corporate work and our work in the retail and leisure sectors.
Differentiators:
We are partner led. This means that you get quick incisive advice from experienced practitioners. The fact that our people are also approachable, friendly and non-patronising has also attracted our current clients to us.
A brief history
Finers Stephens Innocent began its life in 1935. We have detailed a brief history below of the firm.
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1935 |
Mr Arnold A Finer qualified as a Solicitor and set up practice in Queen Street, London EC4. He continued in practice until the onset of war in 1939 when he was called into the army. Mr Finer had a brilliant mathematical mind and became an artillery officer, reaching the rank of Major and serving in Europe and India until he was demobbed in 1945. He then set up again as a sole practitioner at 91 Regent Street, London W1. |
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1951 |
Mr Finer was joined by Michael Green as an Articled Clerk who qualified in April 1956 and was promptly called up for two years National Service. Michael Green rejoined Arnold Finer in practice and became a partner in 1960, the practice was then renamed “Arnold Finer & Green”. |
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1980 |
Arnold Finer & Green merged with Gershon Young & Co, and the combined firm moved to 79 New Cavendish Street practising under the name “Gershon Young Finer & Green”. Arnold Finer retired as a partner in 1984 but remained as a consultant for some time. He died in the mid-90s. |
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1989 |
The firm becomes Finers. A merger was proposed by Stein Swede Jay and Bibring. On the question of the firm name, it was proposed that the name “Finers” be adopted. “Finer” was a well known name in the law and a one word trading name was not only the current fashion but also most suitable as identifying the legal nature of the firm without naming any current partner in the title. After some difficulty, this name was approved by The Law Society. Premises were taken at 179 Great Portland Street and the firm took possession in February 1990 after extensive fitting out from a shell. At that time there were some 16 partners in all and a staff of about 75 including assistant solicitors. The offices in Great Portland Street were built in 1913 and originally called "Speedometer House". See the wikipedia entry here, for more information about the fascinating history of Great Portland Street. |
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1991 |
There was a merger with Thornton Lynne and Lawson, of Portland Place |
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1998 |
Bennett Taylor Tyrrell joined the firm |
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1999 |
Stephens Innocent, led by named partner Mark Stephens and a team of 12 others, merged with Finers to form “Finers Stephens Innocent”.
The Finers and Stephens Innocent merger was followed by further small firms joining Finers Stephens Innocent - in 2000 Edward Lewis & Co joined the firm followed by Nathan Silman in 2001.
Managing Partners in recent decades have included David Swede, Peter Jay, Richard Gerstein, Anthony Barling and now Paul Millett who took over the position on 1st October 2006.
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