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1824

John Wadsworth sets up as an Attorney in Fletcher Gate.

1827

Perry Parr and Ford founded.

1839

Maples and McCraith founded.

1840

George Bell Rothera articled to Coroner Browne

1844

Wadsworth and Patchett founded

1845

George Bell Rothera qualified/admitted as a Solicitor

1846

George Bell Rothera appointed Deputy Coroner of Nottingham City

1850s

Rothera Bray founded by George Bell Rothera.

1859

Clarke Carter & Rothera established

1860

Watson and Wadsworth founded.

1870

Dowsons founded by Benjamin Dowson at 13 Weekday Cross.

1874

Rothera & Sons formed by George Bell Rothera, Charles Lambert Rothera and Frederick William Rothera

1874

Dowson and Wright formed.

1870s

Solicitor Arthur Thomas Ashwell (umpire for Notts County in 1850s at the time Frederick Rothera played) formed a practice with John Johnstone (Ashwell and Johnstone Solicitors) at no. 14 Fletcher Gate. Ashwell and Johnstone Solicitors dissolved in 1889 and Johnstone went on to form his own practice circa 1890s. Ashwell forms a practice with George Tutin.

1880

Frederick William Rothera appointed Deputy Coroner

1881

George Bell Rothera appointed Nottinghamshire Law Society President

1890s

John Johnstone amalgamated with Samuel Williams to form Johnstone Williams Solicitors-based at 6 Weekday Cross.

1891

Charles Lambert Rothera appointed Coroner of the city of Nottingham

1903

Wilfred Stewart Rothera qualified

1903

Charles Lambert Rothera appointed Nottinghamshire Law Society President

1905

Ashwell and Tutin Solicitors based at St Peters Gate dissolved.

1909

Arthur Ashwell lends money to Ernest Terah Hooley, going bankrupt in 1911 after taking liabilities on Hooley’s behalf.

1910

Young and Pearce Solicitors formed by RA Young and Frederick Pearce Snr.

1920

Watson, Crewdson and Wadsworth formed

1930

Frederic Wadsworth

Frederic Wadsworth (son of John Wadsworth), principal of Watson, Crewdson and Wadsworth, dies

1930s

Wilfred Stewart Rothera

Anthony Rothera is articled to his father Wilfred Stewart Rothera’s firm

1934

Wilfred Stewart Rothera appointed Coroner

1936

Anthony Rothera qualified

1936

Nurse Waddingham inquest case held; Wilfred Stewart Rothera Coroner of case

1936

Sir Hubert Dowson appointed President of national Law Society

1937

German and Soar established by Clive German and Arthur Soar.

1937

Wilfred Stewart Rothera appointed Nottinghamshire Law Society President

1939

Enfield and Co incorporated into Dowsons.

1939

Dowson, Wadsworth and Co formed.

1940s

Johnstone Williams Walker Solicitors formed (John Johnstone had died and Samuel Williams and Clifford Sydney Walker were partners)

1946

Anthony Rothera appointed Coroner

1950s

Charles Anthony Sharp becomes a partner.

1951

Rothera Sons and Langham forms, based at 24 Friar Lane, Nottingham

1951

Beeston office of German and Soar opens.

1951

Firm becomes Johnstone, Sharp and Walker Solicitors.

1965

Beeston branch of German and Soar moves to 103-105 High Road.

1965

RW Hall and Co founded.

1965

Anthony Rothera appointed Nottinghamshire Law Society President

1960s

Clifford Sydney Walker retired and son Clifford Arthur Walker became a partner.

1968

Ian Rothera articled to Rothera Sons & Langham (qualifies in 1973)

1969

Rothera Sons & Langham act for 3 Nottingham Police Officers (Raymond Whitney, Barry Hulse and Ronald Stevenson) charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice relating to the authenticity of tape recordings as evidence following an enquiry by the News of the World

1970s

Peter Franklin Gordon Johnstone joins firm.

1970s

Long Eaton and West Bridgford (under name of Johnstone Sharp & Wood) offices open.

1971/2

Rothera Bray formed by merger of Rothera Sons & Langham with Perry Parr & Ford, Maples & McCraith and RW Hall & Co

1972

The grandson of Herbert Johnstone took over the firms of Turpin and Walker (not related to Clifford Walker) and Martin and Sons.

1979

Johnstone Sharp and Walker office at Arnold opens.

1980s

Firm becomes Sharp and Partners.

1980s

Young and Pearce open office in Burton Joyce.

1982

Sharp and Partners Calverton office opens.

1982

Office opens at West Bridgford (under Johnstone Sharp & Wood, Rossell House, Tudor Square until 1992)

1983

Ian Rothera becomes Deputy Coroner and is the 6th member of the Rothera family to hold the position of Coroner or Deputy Coroner for the city

1983

Anthony Rothera

Anthony Rothera (great grandson of George Bell Rothera) made Britain’s first honorary coroner

1986

Wollaton office of German and Soar opens.

1988

Dowson, Wadsworth and Sellers merge with JH Husbands and Son at Rectory Road West Bridgford office, known as Dowson, Wadsworth & Sellers with JH Husbands & Son

1990

Rothera Bray move into 2 Kayes Walk.

1993

Ian Rothera holds Inquest as Deputy Coroner into the deaths of 3 Miners killed in the Bilsthorpe Pit Disaster

1998

Nottingham office of Tallents Godfrey and Co, incorporated into Young and Pearce.

1999

John Pearce and John Garner

Gillespie and Co. incorporated.

1999

Vic Short and Chris Hodson

Rothera Dowson formed.

1999

Amy Rothera articled to Rothera Dowson

2001

German and Soar incorporated into Rothera Dowson.

2002

Amy Rothera qualifies, becoming the 6th generation of Rothera family in the firm

2012

Sharp and Partners merges with Young and Pearce to become Sharp Young & Pearce.

2016

Rothera Dowson and Sharp Young & Pearce merge to form Rothera Sharp.

2020

Rothera Sharp rebrands to Rothera Bray

2022

JH Powell acquisition

Rothera Bray acquires JH Powell & Co and opens its first office in Derby

2023

Rotheras Solicitors LLP and Leicester based Bray & Bray Solicitors merge in October 2023 to form Rothera Bray Solicitors LLP. Creating a 200-strong team across three counties in the East Midlands with eight offices in: Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, Beeston, Hinckley, Mapperley, Market Harborough and West Bridgford.

Our Future Vision

The Rothera Bray name is synonymous with history, culture and prestige. Our roots can be traced back as far as 1824 and in that near 200 years, we have constantly excelled in serving the community with a level of service and expertise unparalleled anywhere else. We’re proud of our heritage, but are also focused on our future. Our values are not just held by the firm, but by each and every person who comes to work here.

Images reproduced by kind permission of Nottingham Local Studies Library, Angel Row, Nottingham and Andy Nicholson of www.nottshistory.org.uk

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