Rees R & Sydney Jones

About

Rees R & Sydney Jones Solicitors is a law firm widely regarded as one of the premier legal firms in Regional Queensland.

The range of services offered is comprehensive with specialist divisions for each area of practice. The areas that the firm practices in reflect the needs of the region in which we are located.

To ensure that each client receives the best service, Rees R & Sydney Jones matches a tradition of friendly, personal service with the latest developments in technology, the law and work practices.

The firm's practice areas include:-

- Mining, Gas and Resumption matters

- Business and Commercial matters

- Property (including rural, commercial and industrial)

- Family Law

- Wills and Estates

- Litigation

- Conveyancing

Specialities

Mining Lease Compensation Agreements, Litigation, Family Law, Commercial Law, Rural and Agribusiness Services, Personal Injury, Coal Seam Gas Compensation Agreements, Land Resumptions, Leasing, Conveyancing, Business Law, Wills and Estates

What are the top 10 most popular goods/services your company provides/specialises in?

Personal Injury law

Family Law

Mining, Gas and Resumption Matters

Agribusiness Law

Business Law

Wills and Estates

Litigation

Commercial Law

Conveyancing

Leasing

What is the history of your company? Who started it? What year? Why? Any interesting story about the success of the company?

This is from the Rees Jones Website.

Rees R & Sydney Jones was established in 1864 and founded by Rees Rutland Jones. It is the oldest legal firm in Queensland still bearing its founder’s name.

Rees Rutland Jones was born in Sydney on the 12th of February 1840, the first surviving child of Rees Jones and his wife Anne, nee Thompson. During his early years, Rees Rutland Jones was known as Rutland to distinguish him from his father. He adopted Rees as his first name when he came to Queensland in 1864.

Rees Rutland Jones was educated at a number of private schools in Sydney and Yass in New South Wales. On the 3rd of April 1861, he began his Articles of Clerkship to solicitors Norton, Son and Barker. On completion of his clerkship, Rees Jones sat for his law examination at the Supreme Court in Sydney the same day as the Chief Justice’s seventh son, Septimus Stephens, who bet $5 he would get the higher marks. Rees Jones had no money for a bet, but predicted he would win – which he did by 10 marks. He was admitted as attorney, solicitor and proctor of the NSW Supreme Court on 4th June 1864. Soon after he travelled to Brisbane and was admitted to the Queensland Supreme Court on 3rd September 1864.

On the 10th September 1864, Rees Rutland Jones arrived from New South Wales in Rockhampton and soon afterwards commenced practice in a timber office building in East Street between Fitzroy and Archer Streets. And so the foundations were laid for the firm of Rees R & Sydney Jones.

Rees Rutland Jones took as his first partner his brother-in-law William John Brown Jnr and in 1872 the firm became Rees R Jones and Brown. The next partner was Charles Sydney Jones who joined the firm in 1884. The departure of William John Brown resulted in the permanent name Rees R & Sydney Jones.

Contrary to popular belief, Sydney Jones was not related to Rees Jones. Sydney Jones was born “Charles Sydney Jones” in Brisbane in 1861. After completing his education, Sydney Jones was articled to Charles Stuart Mein, who was a barrister practising in Brisbane as a solicitor from 1870. Sydney Jones passed his solicitor’s exam and was admitted as a solicitor on 4th December 1870. Sydney Jones came to Rockhampton in 1883 and became Rees Jones’ second partner in 1884.

When Rees Jones and Sydney Jones invited Robert Gamble Brown and Robert Cecil Boland to become partners in 1895, it was on the understanding that the firm would retain the same name. So the tradition of new life but no name change with the introduction of new partners was laid down.