Our history
Our firm’s history stretches back more than 300 years, a testament to service excellence, collaboration, and innovation. Over time, we have evolved through many chapters, bringing together complementary strengths and sector expertise from a number of practices with deep roots in the legal profession. This rich heritage continues to shape our approach today, enabling us to deliver trusted, high-quality legal advice to clients across the UK and internationally.
A legacy spanning centuries
The Penningtons merger with Dawsons LLP in May 2011 brought together two firms with roots tracing back to the eighteenth century. The origins of the Penningtons firm go back to John Fallowfield Scott, who set up his practice in 1791, 62 years after Edward Woodcock registered the firm that would become Dawsons in 1729.
If you had been strolling through Lincoln’s Inn during the early 1800s, you would have passed Mr Woodcock’s premises at 2 New Square, right next door to Mr Scott’s firm at numbers 3 and 6 but it would be over two centuries before these two businesses came together under one roof in Gutter Lane, Cheapside.
Just over 20 years later, in 1825, admiralty proctor Thomas Cooper established his own niche firm in the City of London, the forefather to generations of lawyers who have offered advice and assistance on maritime and trade law under his name.
By 1855, Mr Woodcock’s practice was thriving with an additional office in Chancery Lane. The first member of the Dawson dynasty, William Hill Dawson, joined as a partner that year and the line of Dawson partners continued until the death of Colin Aufrere Dawson in 1958. The firm first became known as Dawson & Co in 1918.
A long line of Penningtons partners
In 1855, Richard Pennington was admitted to Mr Scott’s firm, Cookson, Wainewright and Co, and, after ten years as managing clerk, he became a partner. By 1893 he had become the President of the Law Society and the firm, now called Pennington & Son, moved to 64 Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
Following Richard’s death in 1910, his son, Herbert, ran the practice until he retired in 1921 but the Penningtons line continued with a further 20 partners throughout the 20th century.
In 1964, another firm with a long and illustrious history joined forces with Pennington & Son to form Penningtons and Lewis & Lewis. The latter was founded in 1834 by two brothers, James Graham Lewis and George Coleman Hamilton Lewis. James’ son, George Henry Lewis was one of the most famous solicitors in the history of the profession. He was a partner from 1858 to 1909, knighted in 1893 and made a baronet in 1902.
Manches set up by pioneering partnership
Manches was founded in 1936 by Sidney Manches in a single room in what is now Broadgate. He and his wife Judith were the first husband and wife to practise in partnership. In 1956 they moved to Wigmore Street and in 1990 the firm’s London office transferred to Aldwych House.
Peter Angel opened the Oxford office in 1982 and the Reading office was launched in May 2008 to create a strong Thames Valley presence for the firm.
Sidney and Judith’s son, Louis Manches, trained at Manches and became head of real estate and then senior partner in the London office while their daughter, Jane Simpson, was chair of the firm until her retirement in 2011.
Years of growth and change
Penningtons sold its lease in Lincoln’s Inn Fields in 1971 and moved to 99 Aldwych. In 1972 part of the firm expanded out of London to Surrey. A merger with Ward Bowie in 1986 strengthened our reach in the South, enhancing our regional footprint and bringing with it the Basingstoke office.
Following mergers with Lincoln’s Inn firm Gamlens and city firm Birkbeck Montague in 1991, we moved to Dashwood House but the offices were destroyed by the Bishopsgate bomb in 1993, which killed a News of the World photographer, injured 44 people and caused £350 million of damage.
In 1996 we relocated to Bucklersbury House where we stayed until moving our London headquarters to Abacus House in Gutter Lane, Cheapside in 2007.
Into the 21st century
In 2005, after centuries of being an unlimited liability partnership, the firm converted to a limited liability partnership (LLP), in step with many other professional practices. We went on to welcome colleagues from Dawsons and Wedlake Saint in 2011 and further boosted our practice through the opening of offices in Cambridge and Guildford in 2012.
The acquisition of Manches LLP in October 2013 reflected both firms’ strategic aims in an ever-changing legal environment, creating a 600-strong firm operating out of seven locations in London and the South East. There was additional expansion in 2015 as we consolidated our Surrey presence in new premises in Guildford and moved our London team to 125 Wood Street.
Extending our international reach
In April 2019, the firm launched in the West Midlands through the opening of an office in the centre of Birmingham focusing initially on commercial property. As planned, over time this has developed into a much broader offering.
Just three months later, we completed our merger with Thomas Cooper, now universally recognised for its work in shipping, international trade and international arbitration, to form Penningtons Manches Cooper. Our integrated team operates across seven UK and five overseas offices in Asia and Europe, with the latest addition to our international network, a presence in Antibes, established in 2024.
After nearly 15 years leading the firm, during which time turnover grew by 400%, David Raine, a tort specialist, passed the reins as chief executive to corporate lawyer Helen Drayton in 2022. She was re-elected unanimously for a second term in 2025.
Our timeline
About us
Penningtons Manches Cooper is a leading UK and international law firm providing high quality legal advice tailored to both businesses and individuals. We address the specific objectives of each client through our flair and technical expertise and offer a personal service founded on a strong team ethic.
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