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Our History

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The firm traces its history in the UK back to 1899, when John Spencer Lovell set up in practice on Snow Hill, between St Paul's and Smithfield.  He was later joined by Reginald White, a clerk in his previous firm, to whom he gave articles.  In 1924, they were joined by Charles King, forming Lovell, White & King.  Soon after formation, the firm moved to Thavies Inn at Holborn Circus and later to Serjeant's Inn, Fleet Street, before moving to 21 Holborn Viaduct in October 1977.

In 1966, Lovell White & King merged with Haslewoods, a firm with a much longer history.  Haslewoods' diverse clients included the Treasury Solicitor and also Lord Nelson in his divorce from his first wife.

Durrant Piesse was formed on 1 January 1973 by a merger of two established City firms, Durrant Cooper & Hambling, which was founded in 1910 and had Barclays Bank as its major client, and Piesse & Sons, which was founded as far back as 1857 and had Esso/Exxon as its most important client. In 1985 Durrant Piesse was joined by another old established firm, Faithful Owen & Fraser, who were specialists in patent, trade mark and other intellectual property work.

The firm of Lovell White Durrant was formed on 1 May 1988 by the merger of two major City firms, Lovell White & King, which had a large, by then a broadly based international commercial practice, and Durrant Piesse, known in particular for its banking and financial services expertise.  

In Germany the firm's history goes back to 1884, when the Hamburg office of Droste was opened. There have been a number of mergers along the way to establish the international firm that Lovells is today.

More recent developments in Lovells' history:
  • January 2000 - Merger between Lovells and leading German firm Boesebeck Droste

  • February 2000 - Opening of an associated office in Budapest

  • October 2000 - Opening of Lovells' offices in Milan and Rome

  • December 2000 - Merger between Lovells and the specialist Dutch firm Ekelmans Den Hollander

  • March 2001 - Launch of joint venture with Lee & Lee, a leading law firm in Singapore

  • November 2001 - Merger between Lovells and distinguished French firm Siméon & Associés 

  • 2003 - Opening of Lovells' Shanghai office

  • September 2004 - Opening of Lovells' Madrid office

  • 1 May 2007 - Opening of Lovells' Dubai office (see press release)

  • 1 May 2007 - Lovells converts to a Limited Liability Partnership (see press release)

  • Early 2009 - Opening of Hanoi office, the firm's second office in Vietnam

  • September 2009 - Opening of an associated office in Riyadh

  • November 2009 - Lovells agrees a 'merger of equals' with US firm Hogan & Hartson.  The combination will be known as Hogan Lovells, effective 1 May 2010.  See press release.

  • February 2010 - Opening of an associated office in Jeddah.