For all your legal challenges...
We're here to help
About Us
Firm History
The firm of Fieldings was established in 1871 by Matthew Fielding, a former Mayor of Bolton. In 1887 he was joined by George Fernihough and the firm became know as Fielding & Fernihough.
Matthew's son Edgar joined the firm in 1915 following the death of his father, and remained with the firm until 1958. He still visited the offices until shortly before his death in 1962.
In 1960 the firm took over H. Fairbrother and Son of 9 Fold Street following the death of Kenneth Fairbrother (a sole practitioner who was also the Coroner) and was then known as Fieldings & Fernihough and H. Fairbrother & Son. After the move to Silverwell House on 18th September 1968, and the amalgamation with A. Halstead & Hull in December of that year the opportunity was taken to shorten the firm's name to Fieldings.
On 1st May 1988, the firm amalgamated with an even older Bolton firm, Broadbents of Mawdsley Street, Bolton. The founder of Broadbents, Frederic Broadbent, was admitted as a solicitor during 1837 and was followed in the practice by his son Frederic William Broadbent in 1893.
On 1st May 1995 Fieldings merged with Porter Hope and Knipe of Bolton and became Fieldings Porter. Porter Hope and Knipe had been established in 1937 by the late Philip Porter O.B.E., father of David Porter, previously Senior Partner and now a Consultant at Fieldings Porter.
In September 2011 the firm merged with its neighbouring practice Cumming, Hodkinson, Dickinson and welcomed Roger Gillies and Robert Cumming as consultants.
In October 2012 the firm merged with Manchester City Centre firm Lomax Geddes and Co based in the Royal Exchange and both Peter Brennand (retired 30.11.17) and Ian Brown became consultants, Ian in addition to his sitting as a Deputy District Judge (Civil). In 2013 the Manchester office relocated to the first floor of 86 King Street. On 1 September 2017 the office moved to 2nd floor, 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields.
Fieldings Porter has its head office in Bolton with 7 Partners, 7 Consultant Solicitors, 4 Associate Solicitors, a further 9 Assistant Solicitors, 19 further case workers including Legal Executives, Licensed Conveyancers, Trainee Solicitors and Paralegals, and 13 support staff.
In 2004 - 2005, Edward Nally, now a consultant was President of the Law Society of England and Wales. He was President of the Bolton Incorporated Law Society in 2007. He has been a member of the Legal Services Board, President of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and a solicitor member of the QC Selection Panel.
John Birtwell, former senior partner, was, in 2009 the President of the Bolton Incorporated Law Society. Peter Cunliffe was President of the Bolton Law Society for 2020 and again for 2021.
The firm was an accredited Investor in People from 2005 and in 2012 achieved the much coveted Silver Award. In November 2017 we decided not to renew that accreditation due to a change in their standard. The firm has the Lexcel quality assurance standard accreditation from the Law Society, and has done so for over 23 years.
The firm offers advice and guidance in commercial property and company law, also with specialists in employment law, residential conveyancing, wills, trusts, probate, charity law, civil and commercial litigation and dispute resolution, personal injury including clinical negligence, housing issues, criminal law, family law and the law relating to children.
Among the staff and partners there are members of Resolution, the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates, The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), Solicitors for the Elderly and the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners.
The firm has contracts with the Legal Aid Agency for Family Law and Housing Law. We achieved a category 1 rating of Excellence in a Legal Aid Agency Peer Review process in February 2019. We also hold a Criminal Defence Service contract for Criminal Law.
The firm celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2021. For further details, follow the links - Firm News, Community. 150 years.