History

 

In 2017, we chalked up our 100 year anniversary. It was a milestone that gave us permission to stop for a moment and reflect on our rich heritage, as well as on how far we’ve come.

Hall & Wilcox was established in 1917 by partners Alfred Hall and Francis Wilcox – a time when World War 1 was raging overseas and affecting all at home. The Great War re-shaped society, which came to value attributes such pragmatism, mateship, a desire to serve and ‘courage under fire’. So it’s little wonder these attributes also became entrenched in the firm’s culture.

Initially, we specialised in litigation and insurance. In the 1960s, when we changed our name to Hall & Wilcox, we had one of Melbourne’s leading insurance practices. We continued to grow, expanding into taxation and statutory insurance. By the 1990s, we had evolved into a full-service commercial firm.

In the 2000s, in response to client need, we expanded our national footprint. We opened our Sydney office in 2014, our Newcastle office in 2015, Perth in 2016, Canberra and Brisbane offices in 2017, Darwin office in 2018, and our Adelaide office in 2020.

We’ve remained independent and grown by focusing on the needs of our clients and the development of our teams through both organic growth and strategic lateral hires. Now, we have over 900 people, including 100+ partners, and we’ve opened offices where our clients do business. Our vision to become a leading national law firm has been achieved over the past 12 years, while ensuring we retain and nurture our collaborative and respectful culture.

To celebrate Hall & Wilcox’s centenary, our people and clients reflect on how the firm has grown and evolved since it was set up by Alfred Hall and Francis Wilcox in 1917. From its beginnings as a Melbourne-based law firm, Hall & Wilcox has grown to become a leading national law firm, without losing sight of its collegiate culture and focus on clients.