Ginn & Co Solicitors Facts for Kids

Ginn & Co Solicitors

Headquarters	Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
No. of offices	one
No. of lawyers	10 (2012)
No. of employees	19 (2012)
Major practice areas	General practice
Key people	Madeline Barham
Date founded	1873
Founder	Samuel Reuben Ginn
Company type	Partnership
Dissolved	1 October 2013

Ginn & Co Solicitors was a law firm in Cambridge, England. It had its office at Sidney House on Sussex Street, Cambridge. For 140 years, the firm offered special legal advice. They helped individuals, businesses, and even colleges.

A Long History of Law
What Kinds of Law Did They Practice?

A Long History of Law

Ginn & Co Solicitors at Sidney House in Cambridge

Samuel Reuben Ginn, who was Mayor of Cambridge from 1897 to 1898

Starting the Firm: Samuel Ginn

The law firm began in 1873. It was started by Samuel Reuben Ginn. His father was also a solicitor from St Ives, Cambridgeshire. Samuel Ginn opened his first office on Alexandra Street, near Petty Cury.

Samuel Ginn was a very respected solicitor. He also held many important public jobs. In 1891, he was elected to represent St Matthew's Ward. He was part of the Liberal Party.

From 1897 to 1898, Samuel Ginn was the Mayor of Cambridge. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. This is a special role representing the King or Queen. He was also a Justice of the Peace, which means he helped keep law and order.

During the First World War, he managed a special fund. This fund helped people affected by the war. He also owned large estates in different areas.

Growing the Business

By 1879, Ginn moved his office to 64 St Andrew's Street. He became the solicitor for the Cambridge Street Tramways Company. In 1880, he helped the company get permission from Parliament. This allowed them to make the tramway system bigger.

In 1882, George Alfred Matthew joined Samuel Ginn. They formed a partnership called Ginn & Matthews. The firm then moved to 63 St Andrews Street. George Matthew had studied at St John's College, Cambridge. He was also the President of the Cambridgeshire Law Society.

The firm helped many important businesses. In 1897, they worked for Chivers & Sons, famous jam makers. They also helped Hudson's Cambridge and Pampisford Breweries Ltd. Hudson's owned many pubs in Cambridge. In 1898, Samuel Ginn helped them get a large loan. In 1903, the firm helped William Unwin start his company. This company became the well-known Unwins Seeds.

New Partners and Challenges

In 1903, Geoffrey Garland Goodman joined the firm. He had studied law at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He stayed a partner for 47 years until he died in 1950. He had the tough job of leading the firm through both World Wars.

George Matthew died suddenly in 1905 at age 49. The firm's name then changed to Ginn & Co. The next year, Samuel Ginn’s son, Dennis Barton Ginn, became a partner. He had finished his law degree at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

Soon after, John Edward Few also became a partner. He was from Willingham and studied law at King's College, Cambridge. Few was known for his knowledge of Agricultural Law. He even taught at the University. During the First World War, Captain Dennis Barton Ginn served in places like the Gallipoli Campaign and France.

In 1910, Dennis Barton Ginn's second son was born. His name was Benjamin Dennis Skelton Ginn. He became Major "Skelly" Ginn. During the Second World War, he used his engineering skills. He helped plan daring escape attempts from German prisoner-of-war camps.

In 1919, John Few left Ginn & Co. He started his own firm, which later became Few & Kester.

Changes and Closure

Samuel Reuben Ginn passed away in 1934 at age 82. He left a large amount of money and land. He also left money to his loyal clerks at the firm. Dennis Ginn took over as the main partner. He passed away in 1938 at age 59.

In the same year, Dennis's oldest son, Samuel Marsland Ginn, became a partner. He had also studied law at Trinity Hall. But soon after, he served in the Second World War. In 1944, Major Samuel Marsland Ginn was killed in action. He was 32 years old. This ended the Ginn family's direct link to the firm.

Eric John Gipson Wright joined the firm in 1930. In 1939, he became a partner. He and Geoffrey Garland Goodman helped the firm grow after the war. They also moved the firm to the new Sidney House on Sussex Street.

In 1971, Ginn & Co won a very long court case. It lasted 239 days, which was a record! This case is even mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records.

Clive Nicholas Lane became a partner in 1987. He left in 2001 when he was appointed as a judge. In 2009, he became a Senior Immigration Judge.

In 2011, the firm won a case in the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. They helped a client who had been harassed for seven years. The decision was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2013.

In April 2012, the firm received the Lexcel award. This award is for excellent legal practice and client care. In 2013, Sidney Sussex College announced plans for Sidney House. They wanted to turn it into student rooms. So, on October 1, 2013, Ginn & Co closed its doors. It had been helping people in Cambridge for 140 years.

What Kinds of Law Did They Practice?

Ginn & Co helped people with many different legal issues. Here are some of their main areas:

Wills, Probate, and Trusts: Helping people plan what happens to their money and property after they die.
Inheritance Tax Planning: Giving advice on taxes related to inherited money.
Residential Conveyancing: Handling the legal side of buying and selling homes.
Family Law: Dealing with divorce, child arrangements, and agreements before marriage.
Business Law: Helping with buying and selling businesses.
Commercial Property: Legal work for business buildings and land.
Landlord and Tenant: Advice for people who rent property or rent it out.
Employment Law: Helping with workplace issues.
Civil Litigation: Solving disagreements between people or groups in court.
Contentious Probate: Handling disputes about wills.
Elder Law: Legal help for older people.

Ginn & Co Solicitors facts for kids

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