Official Opening of the new Brisbane Allens Office and Celebration of the 170th Anniversary

Thank you, Mr Rankin, for your kind words of introduction.

It is a great pleasure for me to join you for tonight’s dual celebrations both as Governor, and someone with a mere passing interest in Queensland legal history...

When newly admitted solicitor, Robert Little, commenced his practice in 1846, Brisbane had only been open to free settlement for four years.

The population then was less than 2,000, and Little, according to the 1846 census, was one of just six legal practitioners.

It would be another four years – 1850 – until Mr Justice Therry of the New South Wales Supreme Court heard the first Supreme Court case in Brisbane.

With little more than a quill and parchment, Little went about assiduously applying his legal education for the benefit of his clients from his rickety wooden cottage on the corner of George and Adelaide Streets.

How he would marvel that his practice has become part of the edifying multinational institution now known as Allens! Edifying indeed both physically here in this magnificent 480 Queen Street setting, and in reputation.

Of course many things have changed over those 170 years – gone are the clunky typewriters, the laborious letter presses, thankfully the ashtrays! In are digitally connected workstations, no doubt ergonomically designed, and paperless operations! Indeed I suspect Little would have been rather nonplussed upon hearing that solicitors were now filing documents away in “the cloud”! Or that the firm would be periodically sending into “cyberspace” 140-character-long messages, as would his Governor!

But the values-driven approach and commitment to excellence which underpinned Little’s practice here in Queensland, and later that of Feez Ruthning & Co (and indeed that of the eponymous Allen himself in Sydney), continues to wonderfully denote this firm of deservedly high international standing.

I thank Mr Rankin, past and present Partners and indeed all staff for their ongoing beneficial contributions, and for organising today’s memorable and historic occasion.

It is an immense privilege to celebrate with you all the high achievement which has continually distinguished this firm as remarkable, and in such elegant new premises.

Before I conclude these brief comments tonight, I should make “the” declaration of personal interest.

In Allens’ earlier iteration, Feez Ruthning & Co in the 70s/80s, this firm was very supportive of my career at the bar, and for that I will be ever grateful.

Fortunately our philosophies coincided, especially with the need for rigorous and comprehensive preparation to ensure optimal representation of the client, and for its continuing commitment to that, I warmly congratulate this leading Queensland firm – indeed, as I have referred to already tonight, this leading “institution”.

Without further ado, it gives me great pleasure to now declare open Allens’ new 480 Queen Street premises in their 170^th year in our State. Thank you.