COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Howlett Clarke

Business nature: Solicitors

Date established: 1773

Location: Ship Street, Brighton and Boundary Road, Hove

Number of employees: About 60

Annual turnover: In excess of £3 million

Towards the end of the 18th century, when the Prince of Wales wished to buy more land to extend the Royal Pavilion, he called upon the services of William Attree, founder of the firm of solicitors now known as Howlett Clarke.

At the time Mr Attree was about the only attorney living in Brighton so had a virtual monopoly on legal work.

When the Brighton Town Commissioners were set up in 1773 to pave and light the town’s streets, he became their first clerk and treasurer.

But this high standing didn’t mean much to royalty. Following the conveyancing work, Mr Attree found himself waiting – and waiting – for his bill to be paid.

The future George IV’s wild ways and highly indebted lifestyle were notorious at the time so it was no surprise a delegation from the firm ended up travelling to London to try and ask for the bill to be settled.

Instead of coughing up, the Prince of Wales fobbed them off with a portrait of himself that he demanded be accepted in lieu of proper payment.

The painting still hangs in the firm’s offices in Ship Street, which were built on a plot of land Mr Attree bought for £50 in 1775.

It is not so much a treasured possession, however, but rather a constant reminder that even the poshest clients cannot always be counted on to be trustworthy.

According to Richard Schaverien, partner at Howlett Clarke: “If it was worth anything I don’t think we would still have it hanging up here.”

The firm’s modern name comes from when Somers Clarke, who joined in 1829, took over as senior partner from Mr Attree’s son Thomas.

James Howlett joined the practice in 1857 and it became Attree, Clarke & Howlett. The Attree part was dropped in 1888 and Howlett Clarke as we know it today was established in December 2003 following a merger between Howlett Clarke Cushman and Aldrich Crowther & Wood, then ACW-Law.

Although the founder’s name is no longer above the door, everyone at Howlett Clarke is proud of their strong Brighton roots.

Mr Schaverien, who specialises in personal injury cases, said: “I was born and bred in the city and most of the current partners were trained locally. We pride ourselves on being a firm which serves the local community.

Our clients are very much Sussex-based so we are not constantly trying to push into London or anything like that.

“This means we can offer a very personal service.”

Howlett Clarke establishes its local credentials each year by offering two Sussex-based trainees the opportunity of joining on a two-year placement, which must be competed before they can qualify as a solicitor.

Mr Schaverien said: “Placements are like gold dust across the country.”

Like most sectors, the legal profession has been hit by the economic downturn, which may have an impact on the placement scheme.

Mr Schaverien said: “You will find that nearly every firm in Brighton has had to let people go.

“We have managed to keep most people but lost some support staff.

This year is the first time we have ever thought about cutting back [on the scheme]. No decision has been made yet but I would hope we can take on at least one person.”