Author and historian Suzanne Welborn, whose oeuvre includes "Swan - The History of a Brewery", has turned her attention to the world of law to pen the equally exciting "Freehills - A History of Australia's first national law firm".

The great and good of Freehills were out in force this week to celebrate the launch of Welborne's new opus, which examines the development of the firm from 1838 until 2000, according to Lawyers Weekly. The book is apparently a heady ride through the firm's exhilarating past - with tales of scandalous divorces (goodness!), "flamboyant" lawyers (whatever next!) and tax bills (oh). All before the thrilling denouement in 2000, when the firm officially changed its name from Freehill Hollingdale & Page to Freehills and became a single partnership.

    A reader overwhelmed by tales of tax bills yesterday

The book was commissioned by Freehills and is being published in the same month as the 140th anniversary of the admission of one the firm's founders to practise law. According to Chief Executive Gavin Bell the book contains "many fascinating and sometimes funny anecdotes". So hold onto your hats.

Welborne's book will be available to clients who request it and will also be sold in selected bookstores, so you too can have a copy of the "inspirational story". RollOnFriday decided not to ask Freehills for a copy to give away to readers.
 
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Comments

Anonymous 12 April 12 17:36

...and the response from the firm's own partners? That the book is a piece of fiction in terms of history, yet still a true reflection of an ugly firm culture: most of the stories have been fabricated by the most influential and least effective partners to show them actually contributing to something, at the expense of those who actually did. A cheap victory for the deadwood and deadweight which has taken over at Freebies.