Leading city law firms buy years

16 October 2007

Leading City law firms Berwin Leighton Paisner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and Slaughter and May have each bought a year of London’s history to mark their foundation years in an imaginative scheme set up by the Museum of London to raise funds for its £18 million redevelopment.

For £5,000, businesses can name a year of London’s history to celebrate their foundation, flotation or financial successes. Their support will be marked by plaques on a Timeline in the new galleries. Over 300 years of the capital's history, from 1666, the year of the Great Fire, to 2012, the year of the Olympic games, are up for grabs and on sale now.

Berwin Leighton Paisner bought 2001, the year of the merger that created the firm by bringing together more than 900 staff including 122 partners.  Since then the firm has almost doubled its turnover and now employs around 1,200 people.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has purchased 1743, as Freshfields can trace its lineage back to 1743, when Samuel Dodd was appointed solicitor to the Bank of England. The firm has acted for the Bank ever since.

Slaughter and May have purchased 1889, the year two young solicitors William Capel Slaughter and William May, left the law firm where they were working to set up on their own. One of their most influential clients was Baron Emile d 'Erlanger who brought in a great deal of African and South American mining and railway business. He also introduced them to Schroder and Company and to railway contractor George Pauling.

The partners were soon going as far as New York, Brussels, Ireland and Paris long before travelling was commonplace. Among the firm's clients were Mr Alfred Nobel and Mr Joseph Pulitzer.

Opening in 2009, the project will transform the lower floor of the Museum of London to tell the story of the city over the last 300 years through the lives of Londoners – those born in London, working here, or who have moved here – all who think of London as their city.

The new displays will contain more objects than ever, like Nelson's jewel encrusted sword, Suffragette banners and an Ozwald Boateng suit. The scheme will also see the development of the new Clore Learning Centre, providing flexible and inspiring spaces for learners of all ages, an e-learning suite, object handling areas, a theatre and The Sackler Hall containing an information zone and coffee point.

Professor Jack Lohman, Director of the Museum of London says,

'We are delighted that these prominent law firms are supporting the re-development of the Museum, helping us to literally ‘make history.

'The 70,000 schoolchildren who visit the Museum each year and the many City workers who drop in during their lunch breaks will find the Museum transformed with exciting new displays containing double the number of objects to intrigue them. In 2009, people passing our distinctive roundabout will see the Lord Mayor’s coach on show in all its glory in a new gallery with a glass frontage looking out onto London Wall at street level.'

Neville Eisenberg, Berwin Leighton Paisner's Managing Partner, said:

'Berwin Leighton Paisner is sponsoring 2001 because it was the year of the merger that created the firm, so it was a very special year for us. But it is also important for us to support the Museum in celebrating the history of London.

'Our lawyers play a major role in the planning and construction of many of the buildings that shape the City and we support some of the leading institutions and businesses from around the world which ensure London remains one of the world's major financial centres.'

Guy Morton, Senior Partner of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, commented:

'This is a very appealing project and we are glad to be involved. We chose 1743, the year of Freshfields' genesis, and I am looking forward to seeing our name taking its place in the timeline of the City's history.'

Tim Clark, Senior Partner of Slaughter and May commented:

'We are pleased to be supporting the redevelopment of the Museum of London, which is an important part of the City of London’s cultural heritage.'

With its sale of years of London’s history the Museum hopes to raise the final £1 million needed to complete the project. The Heritage Lottery Fund has already pledged £11.5 million towards the project and the campaign has also attracted support from a variety of philanthropists, corporate contacts, trusts, foundations and individuals.

This unique campaign 'selling' twentieth century years offers the chance to mark memorable events within living memory, like the end of World war II, the Coronation, England's 1966 World Cup win, or family birthdays and anniversaries.

For more information see www.museumoflondon.org.uk/buyayear or call 020 7814 5592

Press enquiries

Marian Williams
tel: 020 7814 5502
email: mwilliams@museumoflondon.org.uk