Blake Dawson
Encyclopedia
Blake Dawson is a commercial law firm
that operates in the Asia-Pacific
region. In Australia
it is considered one of the "Big Six" law firms
.
Blake Dawson was previously known as Blake Dawson Waldron or BDW. The firm shortened its name to 'Blake Dawson' in November 2007.
in 1841 when James Hunter Ross emigrated from Scotland
and set up practice in a tent on the corner of Bourke and William Streets in Melbourne. In 1874 he adopted the name of Blake & Riggall, which remained unchanged for 114 years.
In 1881, George Charles King Waldron commenced practice in Pitt Street in Sydney
under the name of Dawson Waldron.
Blake & Riggall and Dawson Waldron mergered in 1988.
From the early years, Blake Dawson played a significant part in the legal system in Victoria
and New South Wales
, with a substantial commercial, litigation and property practice. The firm's client base included large corporations, banks, mining and pastoral companies.
Blake Dawson Waldron was formed in 1988 through a merger of Blake & Riggall (Melbourne
, Brisbane
), Dawson Waldron (Sydney
, Canberra
and Singapore
), Collison Hunt & Richardson (Perth
) and McCubbery Train Love and Thomas (Port Moresby
). This merger brought together lawyers from all major commercial centres in Australia
as well as important centres in the Asia and Pacific regions. Three further Asian offices were established, Jakarta
in 1988, Shanghai
in 1995 and Singapore
in 2009.
In 2007 the firm underwent re-branding, and as part of this project, shortened its name to Blake Dawson. The name change drew some attention from the local press and the Australian Financial Review, a respected business newspaper, published a story about a homosexual pornographic actor who shared the same name. Blake Dawson, the actor, featured in "The Diary" in 1982 and "Spring Semester" in 1985. The law firm still continued to proceed with the name change after the story was published.
In 2009 it was announced that the partnership of Blake Dawson is considering cutting up to 100 staff in a bid to slash costs and preserve profit. Blake Dawson is the first top tier law firm in Australia to announce anticipated redundancies during the 2009 economic downturn.
In September 2011 it was announced that the firm will merge its Asian business with that of British law firm Ashurst
and be renamed as Ashurst across all offices in March 2012, followed by a full financial merger of the two firms in 2014.
The firm has a strong tradition of pro bono work and has maintained a formal, national pro bono program for 10 years. In 2007, Blake Dawson became a foundation signatory to the National Pro Bono Resource Centre's target, undertaking to perform an average of at least 35 hours pro bono work per lawyer per year. In FY10 their lawyers averaged 46 hours in pro bono legal work.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
that operates in the Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific or Asia Pacific is the part of the world in or near the Western Pacific Ocean...
region. In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
it is considered one of the "Big Six" law firms
Big Six law firms (Australia)
The Big Six law firms is a term informally used in Australia to refer to those firms which, collectively, are perceived to be the largest firms headquartered in Australia and distinguished in comparison to their other competitors...
.
Blake Dawson was previously known as Blake Dawson Waldron or BDW. The firm shortened its name to 'Blake Dawson' in November 2007.
History
Blake Dawson had its origins in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1841 when James Hunter Ross emigrated from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and set up practice in a tent on the corner of Bourke and William Streets in Melbourne. In 1874 he adopted the name of Blake & Riggall, which remained unchanged for 114 years.
In 1881, George Charles King Waldron commenced practice in Pitt Street in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
under the name of Dawson Waldron.
Blake & Riggall and Dawson Waldron mergered in 1988.
From the early years, Blake Dawson played a significant part in the legal system in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, with a substantial commercial, litigation and property practice. The firm's client base included large corporations, banks, mining and pastoral companies.
Blake Dawson Waldron was formed in 1988 through a merger of Blake & Riggall (Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
), Dawson Waldron (Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
), Collison Hunt & Richardson (Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
) and McCubbery Train Love and Thomas (Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
). This merger brought together lawyers from all major commercial centres in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as well as important centres in the Asia and Pacific regions. Three further Asian offices were established, Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
in 1988, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in 1995 and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 2009.
In 2007 the firm underwent re-branding, and as part of this project, shortened its name to Blake Dawson. The name change drew some attention from the local press and the Australian Financial Review, a respected business newspaper, published a story about a homosexual pornographic actor who shared the same name. Blake Dawson, the actor, featured in "The Diary" in 1982 and "Spring Semester" in 1985. The law firm still continued to proceed with the name change after the story was published.
In 2009 it was announced that the partnership of Blake Dawson is considering cutting up to 100 staff in a bid to slash costs and preserve profit. Blake Dawson is the first top tier law firm in Australia to announce anticipated redundancies during the 2009 economic downturn.
In September 2011 it was announced that the firm will merge its Asian business with that of British law firm Ashurst
Ashurst (Law firm)
Ashurst LLP is a full-service international law firm. Its principal business focus is mergers and acquisitions, corporate and structured finance...
and be renamed as Ashurst across all offices in March 2012, followed by a full financial merger of the two firms in 2014.
Community
Blake Dawson works closely with community-based lawyers and with not-for-profit clients to understand the legal needs of people in the community and to identify clients who may benefit from legal assistance.The firm has a strong tradition of pro bono work and has maintained a formal, national pro bono program for 10 years. In 2007, Blake Dawson became a foundation signatory to the National Pro Bono Resource Centre's target, undertaking to perform an average of at least 35 hours pro bono work per lawyer per year. In FY10 their lawyers averaged 46 hours in pro bono legal work.