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Summary
Blake Lapthorn is a firm of solicitors founded in 1869 by Alfred Starling Blake. The firm originated in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and has since expanded with offices in Southampton, Reading, London, Oxford and Cardiff. Blake Lapthorn merged with Morgan Cole in 2014.

Services
Blake Lapthorn is a full-service law firm now operating under the name of Blake Morgan LLP. The firm provides legal solutions to individuals, businesses, not-for-profit and government clients.

History
1869 - Alfred Starling Blake founds A. S. Blake Solicitor on 25 February 1869. Offices open at 40 High Street, Gosport, and 21 Union Street, Portsea.

1877 - Henry Reed joins as partner. Firm changes name to Blake & Reed.

1883 - Thomas Henry Field Lapthorn becomes partner and firm changes name to Blake, Reed & Lapthorn. Henry Reed dies.

1885 - Founding partner Alfred Starling Blake elected Lord Mayor of Portsmouth.

1892 - Alfred Starling Blake dies on 4 March 1892 aged 44. As Mayor of Portsmouth 1885-86 he laid the foundation stone of Portsmouth Guildhall.

1903 - Leonard Nicholson Blake, son of Alfred Starling Blake, becomes partner.

1922 - Firm changes name to Blake Lapthorn & Roberts after Samuel Pugh Roberts becomes partner in 1921.

1935 - Thomas Lapthorn dies.

1930 - Frederick Cyril Rea joins as partner and firm becomes Blake Lapthorn Roberts & Rea.

1933 - Fareham office opens.

1938 - Leonard Nicholson Blake follows in his father's footsteps as elected Lord Mayor of Portsmouth 1938-39. Nora Woodfall Blake (née Lapthorn), becomes Lady Mayoress.

1944 - Leonard Nicholson Blake dies.

1947 - Keith Nicholson Blake, eldest son of Leonard Blake and nephew of Thomas Lapthorn, and Hubert Glyn Williams become partners.

1949 - Alfred Lapthorn Blake, second son of Leonard Blake and Nora Woodfall Blake (née Lapthorn) becomes partner.

1958 - Alfred Lapthorn Blake becomes Lord Mayor of Portsmouth.

1961 - Waterlooville office opens.

1962 - David Wallace Russell becomes partner and firm changes name to Blake Lapthorn Rea & Williams.

1963 - Havant office opens.

1965 - Keith Blake dies.

1966 - David Anthony Collins and Raymond John Vincent become partners.

1969 - North End office opens. Colin Peter Barlow and Michael Joseph Burridge become partners. Centenary dinner held at Portsmouth Guildhall on 28 February 1969.

1971 - Carey Stuart Blake and Michael David Jackson Profit become partners.

1972 - Lee-on-the-Solent office opens.

1973 - Samuel Pugh Roberts dies.

1974 - Charles Richard Hewitt becomes a partner. Frederick Rea dies.

1976 - Southampton office opens. David George Tusler, Charles John Scragg and Stephen Edward Murfitt become partners.

1979 - Donald Agnew becomes partner.

1980 - London office opens at 5 Clifford Street.

1981 - Caroline Ann Williams, David Roger Glyde Higham and Maxwell Charles Craft become partners. Caroline is the first female partner. Firm is amalgamated with its London agents Robbins Olivey & Lake at 218 The Strand. David Reginald Alexander Fishwick becomes partner. Firm renamed Robbins Olivey & Blake Lapthorn (in London).

1983 - Firm renamed Blake Lapthorn in May 1983. Firm has 10 offices, 17 partners and total team of approximately 250. Hubert Glyn Williams retires.

1984 - John James Mitchell becomes partner.

1985 - Sir Alfred Lapthorn Blake retires.

1986 - Christopher John Taunt becomes partner.

1987 - Walter Jenn Bang Cha becomes partner.

1988 - Deborah Jane Castle, Gillian Ellis and Jane Mary Halton become partners.

1990 - Segensworth office opens. Susan Dryden, Alison Jane McClure and Mary Louise Chant become partners.

1992 - Philip Mervyn Harwood-Smart, John Harvard Britten and Nicholas Charles Poole become partners.

1993 - Richard Alan Portlock and Peter Mark Shepherd become partners.

1994 - Peter William Brian Barber, Barry John Stimpson and Bradley Albuery become partners.

1996 - New Portsmouth office (Harbour Court) opens, concluding relocation of the old Portsmouth, North End, Havant, Waterlooville and Gosport offices.

2003 - Blake Lapthorn merges with Linnells to create a 79-partner firm under the name Blake Lapthorn Linnell.

2005 - Blake Lapthorn Linnell mergers with 12-partner Portsmouth practice Sherwin Oliver.

2006 - Blake Lapthorn Linnell merges with White & Bowker and then IP/IT firm Tarlo Lyons in the same year.

2013 - Sir Alfred Lapthorn Blake KCVO, MC, DL dies on 17 November 2013 aged 98.

2014 - Blake Lapthorn merges with Morgan Cole to form Blake Morgan.

2019 - The firm celebrates 150 years.

People
Alfred Starling Blake (1848-1892)

Alfred Starling Blake was born in 1848, son of Joseph Starling Blake and Esther Stiff. In 1869, Alfred Starling Blake was admitted as solicitor and founded Blake Lapthorn with offices in Portsea and Gosport, Hampshire. Alfred was son of Cllr Joseph Starling Blake, a draper, becoming the second generation of the Blake family to devote political service to Portsmouth. Alfred studied law and was articled as trainee to Thomas Cousins J.P. In 1885 he was elected Mayor of Portsmouth for the one-year term 1885-86 and on 14 October 1886 lay the foundation stone of Portsmouth Guildhall. In 1890, like his father before him, Alfred became Alderman of Portsmouth in the parish of St John.

Thomas Henry Field Lapthorn

Thomas Henry Field Lapthorn J.P. joined the firm as partner in 1883. From Southsea, Thomas, was actively involved in politics for the Liberal Party, serving as President of Portsmouth Liberal Association and Liberal candidate for Portsmouth North at the 1922 General Election. Thomas was married to Elsie May Nicholson and the couple's eldest daughter Enid Lapthorn was a British Liberal Party and later Liberal National politician. Thomas Lapthorn served as President of Hampshire Incorporated Law Society 1906-08 and Justice of the Peace of the County Borough (subsequently City) of Portsmouth.

Leonard Nicholson Blake (1878-1944)

Leonard Nicholson Blake followed in his father's footsteps as elected Lord Mayor of Portsmouth 9 November 1938 to 9 November 1939. Leonard was married to Nora Woodfall Blake (née Lapthorn). On 22 April 1939, sitting beside His Majesty King George VI in the Royal Box at Wembley Stadium, Lord Mayor Blake witnessed Portsmouth Football Club defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4:1 in the final of the Football Association Cup. Due to the outbreak of the Second World War, Portsmouth technically held the trophy until the next final was held in 1945. Leonard Nicholson Blake was also Portsmouth City Council's representative on the Regional Council for Civil Defence. He died in 1944.

Alfred Lapthorn Blake (1915-2013)

Alfred Lapthorn Blake was the second son of Leonard Nicholson Blake and Nora Woodfall Blake (née Lapthorn). Alfred became partner of Blake Lapthorn in 1949 and was elected Lord Mayor of Portsmouth for the term 1958-59. Alfred was married to Beatrice ('Trixie') Grace Blake and followed in his father's and grandfather's footsteps when he became the third generation of the Blake family to hold the position of Lord Mayor. in 1966 Alfred Lapthorn Blake became Director of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, reporting to Prince Philip, and in 1975 is appointed Companion of the Royal Victorian Order. In 1979, Alfred is appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).

Carey Stuart Blake (1943- )

Carey Stuart Blake is the elder son of Alfred Lapthorn Blake, great-grandson of Alfred Starling Blake and great-nephew of Thomas Henry Field Lapthorn. He is the fourth generation of Blake family to have held the position of Senior Partner in Blake Lapthorn Solicitors.