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Herbert Geer is an Australian commercial law firm with more than 300 staff and offices located in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. 

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Herbert Geer
Type of business Partnership
No. of offices 3
No. of staff 300+
Major practice areas General practice
Date founded 1939
Website
http://www.herbertgeer.com.au

History

The firm of Herbert Geer was founded on 26 January 1939 when Keith Geer commenced his sole practice in Bank Place, off Collins Street, Melbourne.

After the disruption of the Second World War, Keith Geer resumed his practice and was joined in February 1946 by Geoffrey Herbert, who continued to operate from his office in Black Rock.

The firm was known as Herbert & Geer and was largely a conveyancing practice. 1950 saw the partnership expand further with the addition of Eric Rundle, bringing a broader commercial base to the firm. It was not until 1960 however, that the firm assumed the name, Herbert Geer & Rundle.

In 1962 the Melbourne office relocated to 113 William Street, taking with it a total of 10 partners and staff, plus three residents in the office at Black Rock. At about this time the firm purchased an office in Niddrie at the request of the Bank of New South Wales, for professional expansion in this area. This office was sold in July 1988. Between 1962 and 1970, three small practices were absorbed into Herbert Geer & Rundle; Farmer & Ramsay, Williams & Matthews and the office of Cyril Brooks. Many clients from these three firms are still associated with the firm today.

The firm achieved publicity in the early 1970s by handling the defendant’s litigation for all workers' compensation claims arising from the Westgate bridge collapse. Further office relocations occurred with moves to Owen Dixon Chambers and BHP House before arriving at the State Bank Building in 1983 when the firm had 12 partners and 110 staff.

With the growth of the Partnership, Herbert Geer & Rundle significantly broadened its areas of expertise, whilst also extending its international connections and services. In April 1999, Herbert Geer & Rundle opened its Sydney Office. The firm opened an office in Brisbane in early 2001.

In 2008 the name was refined to Herbert Geer and a new identity was developed to respond to the expectations of the market. At the same time it joined with the 80 partners and staff of Brisbane firm Nicol Robinson Halletts Lawyers, as well as the boutique construction firm RDK in Sydney.

In recent years, Herbert Geer have successfully acted for iiNet Limited, an Australian ISP, in its defence of a landmark Federal Court claim and subsequent appeal brought by a group of major film studios alleging that iiNet had authorised copyright infringements by its subscribers [1], and in successfully arguing the matter of Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission[2] in the High Court.

Service areas

Herbert Geer is a commercial law firm providing advice to clients across all major areas of law, including:

  • accident compensation
  • banking and finance
  • climate change
  • commercial dispute resolution
  • corporate
  • employment, workplace relations & safety
  • energy and resources
  • environment and sustainability
  • family
  • financial services
  • franchising
  • government
  • infrastructure
  • infrastructure planning
  • insurance services
  • intellectual property
  • leasing
  • litigation
  • media and entertainment
  • mergers and acquisitions
  • planning
  • projects and construction
  • property
  • seniors housing
  • superannuation
  • taxation
  • technology
  • telecommunications
  • transport
  • workplace services

Awards

Some of the firm’s recent notable achievements include:

  • 2011 Winner BRW magazine ‘Client Choice Award’ for Best Law Firm ($50m - $200m turnover) [3]
  • 2011 Winner of ALB Employer of Choice Award (Blue) [4]
  • 2011 Winner ALB Law Awards Melbourne Law Firm of the Year [5]
  • 2011 Winner Services to Industry - Professional Services in the ACOMMS Awards [6]
  • 2011 Finalist in the BRW magazine ‘Client Choice Awards’ in the Best Value Firm category

Pro Bono

Herbert Geer undertakes a variety of pro bono matters and represents, to name a few, the following organisations:

  • Public Interest Clearing House (PILCH)
  • Australian Senior Rights Legal Clinic
  • Australian Childhood Foundation
  • The Centre for Eye Research Australia
  • World Vision
  • NSW Cancer Patients Legal Services
  • Mensheds Australia Limited
  • Gondwana Voices Limited

Offices

Melbourne

Level 20 385 Bourke Street Melbourne VIC 3000

Sydney

Level 12 77 King Street Sydney NSW 2000

Brisbane

Level 10 175 Eagle Street Brisbane QLD 4000

References

  1. ^ "Herbert Geer's win for iiNet" Lawyers Weekly 8 February 2011
  2. ^ [2010] HCA 1
  3. ^ BRW magazine Volume 33 Number 10: March 17–23, 2011,
  4. ^ http://au.legalbusinessonline.com/surveys-and-ranking/employer-of-choice-2011/46113
  5. ^ http://au.legalbusinessonline.com/site-search/c2011-alb-law-awards-winners-revealed/84022?keyword=alb+awards,
  6. ^ http://www.commsalliance.com.au/about-us/newsroom/2011-14
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