History

Our founders—William Sparke and Basil Helmore—instilled traditions of strong ties to local communities, active involvement in the legal profession and new ways of working with clients, which are all expressions of our growing business today.

We first opened our doors for business in Newcastle in 1882 and have grown from that one office to nine offices nationally in response to client demand.

We’ve enjoyed strong organic growth but have also been acquisitive, always on the lookout for the right individual, team or firm who “get” the Sparke Helmore culture. In the last five years, we’ve expanded significantly in size and capabilities and the great thing is among the ranks of the new are many “lifers”, people who wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

There are not too many law firms in Australia today who can say that their partnership has survived the onslaught of two World Wars , the Great Depression and the Global Financial Crisis and have not only lived to tell the tale, but have come out the other side of these global catastrophes stronger than ever.

It’s in our DNA to be resilient, always resourceful, and future ready. We’re confident we will continue to thrive for years to come because we know how to weather the toughest of storms.

140 years in the making - celebrating our 140th anniversary in 2022

It was on 2 September 1882 that William Sparke was admitted as ‘Attorney, Solicitor and Protector of the Supreme Court of NSW’. The motion was made by the first Prime Minister of Australia and one of the first judges of the High Court, Sir Edmund Barton. A week after his admission, William Sparke was in business in Hunter Street in an office adjoining the (then) American Consulate.
 
In 1922 the firm became Sparke and Helmore. Dr Basil Helmore was Mr Sparke’s young articled clerk, who was back from two years of war and was admitted as a solicitor in 1920, specialising in property, mercantile and mining law.
 
Read the history of Sparke Helmore’s first 140 years —140 years in the making!