Bates and Partners

The firm was originally established by Sidney Bates in 1930 in Leigh on Sea and soon became "Bates & Son" on the birth of his son Jameson. Fortuitously Jameson fulfilled his father's ambition for his son when he qualified as a solicitor and joined his father in practice!

In those early years the practice was based in Leigh on Sea, but Sidney's growing reputation as a commercial lawyer enabled him to open a second office in London.

Sidney served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War and during that time the office in London was destroyed by enemy war action and not reopened until some time after the cessation of hostilities.

Sidney was very much a man of public affairs and as well as becoming Mayor of Southend on two occasions, also served as Chairman of the Anglia River Authority and finally as Chairman of the England and Wales River Authorities. He was also a director of many companies both quoted and private.

In 1947 he was joined as an articled clerk by Jack Braby, also returning from the forces, and after he qualified, the practice became Bates Son & Braby, which name the partners retained until 1979 when the practice became titled as Bates & Partners.

Nash & Vann

The practice of Nash & Vann was established by Mr Ernest Nash in 1913. Mr Nash subsequently entered into partnership with Mr Herbert Vann who had moved to Hampshire from Sheffield. The two sons of Mr Vann joined the practice after the Second World War and for many years Derek Vann and Peter Vann practised in Fleet at the corner of Fleet Road and Branksomewood Road.

Roger Wasem moved from Bates and Partners' Essex office to Nash & Vann in Fleet in 1984 where he remained until his death in June 2007 embracing and continuing the legacy both of Bates and Partners and of Derek and Peter Vann with the emphasis on traditional courtesy and service to clients and the community.

Malcolm McD Hooker practised in Fleet for many years from his premises in Kings Road. In the years leading to his retirement, he merged with the firm of Nash & Vann to become Nash Vann Hooker. Thomas & Co was primarily a conveyancing practice also based in Kings Road, Fleet for many years. Barbara Thomas, the Principal, and Anthony Thomas, a conveyancing executive, merged with the practice again in the years leading to their retirement. Today the practice of Bates nvh comprises offices at Leigh on Sea, London and in Hampshire at Fleet, Hartley Wintney, Hook and Odiham.