Fraser Coast firm Corser Sheldon & Gordon, or CSG Law, recently celebrated 140 years in the legal profession with about 80 staff members reuniting for the milestone occasion.
Principals Tim McQuaid and Sarah Smith were joined by now retired Partners Barry Sheldon, Kerry McBride and Greg Boyle together with staff members, clients and associates at a function in October.
Tim and Sarah spoke about the firm’s history and shared anecdotes. Tim put the firm’s history into perspective in that it had experienced two World Wars, other conflicts, depression and famine.
He said the events the early partners would have seen and endured over this time was difficult to comprehend.
Tim said the business continued to have a presence today and consisted of many talented people who generously gave of their time to support a firm they were proud to work for.
He said they were all working to ensure that the legacy was the continuation of Corser Sheldon & Gordon and handing over the firm to the next generation of like-minded people.
There was also a history display with photographs of all 14 of the former and current partners and a selection of documents including the founding partner’s Certificate of Admission as a solicitor together with safe custody books dating back to the early 1900s.
The firm’s founder was James Stafford who started practice at Maryborough in 1885 (although research unearthed a newspaper clipping dated 22 March 1884 was unearthed stating “another addition to the ranks of the legal fraternity of Maryborough has to be recorded. Mr JM Stafford, a rising young lawyer hailing from the reputable office of Wilson & Wilson, Brisbane announces that he has taken chambers in Mr Woodrow’s building near the Post Office and commenced practice as a Solicitor”).
The Woodrow’s building is across the road from the current Maryborough office and subsequently the block of buildings where the office is currently situated was erected for the Town & Suburban Building Society in 1889 and Mr Stafford then moved into that building.
The following year Hubert Harrington went into partnership with Mr Stafford but unfortunately Mr Stafford passed away suddenly later that year aged 42. Mr Harrington then remained with the firm for 18 years until he became a Barrister.
Henry Corser also joined the firm later in 1900 and was a Partner for 18 years and Charles Sheldon joined the partnership in 1907 where he remained for some 35 years. During that time Clement Gordon joined the firm in 1920 where he remained for 10 years. The name was then changed to Corser Sheldon & Gordon.
Additional members of the Sheldon family subsequently joined the firm – Geoff in 1930 and Barry in 1964. Geoff was a Partner for 50 years and Barry for 40 years but Barry also worked for the firm for six years as an Articled Clerk to his father before becoming a Partner.
A visiting office was conducted in Hervey Bay during the 1970s when Geoff Sheldon attended at the CWA Hall in Torquay Road, Pialba on a weekly basis. The firm opened a full-time practice in Hervey Bay in 1979 from premises in Watson Street, Pialba, and the Hervey Bay Practice was moved to 5 Torquay Road, Pialba, in 1980.
Subsequent Partners of Corser, Sheldon & Gordon were: Astor Zemek for 27 years from 1974 to 2001; Kerry McBride for 20 years from 1980 to 2000 and Greg Boyle for 41 years from 1974 to 2021. Greg also worked for the firm as an Articled Clerk for six years before joining the partnership.
Bruce Sargent and David Hinton were also Partners for six years and five years respectively.
The firm became an Incorporated Legal Practice on 1 July 2018.
Tim joined the firm in 1986 and has now been a Principal for 35 years. Sarah joined the firm as Principal four years ago in 2021 after having worked for the firm for 16 years.
One Response
Well done Greg