|
1903
|
The
firm was established by John
Morrison Melville who practised
on his own account for many
years. |
|
1920’s |
John Melville took in two
partners and the firm became
known as Melville Ferner &
Brown. Ray Ferner was
subsequently appointed a
stipendiary magistrate and the
firm reverted to a sole practice
under the name J M Melville. |
|
1935 |
John Melville formed a company
called New Zealand Forest
Products. |
|
1937 |
Arthur Henry
Churton admitted to the
partnership and the firms name
changed to Melville Churton. |
|
1938 |
John Melville
and Arthur Churton were joined
by Jock Cairns in partnership.
At that time Jock Cairns was a
resident partner at a branch
office in Mangataroto. After the
end of World War II, Jock Cairns
resigned and later was a senior
partner of the firm Cairns Slane
in Auckland. |
|
1952
|
Harold Brainsby
joined the practice. Harold had
a background as a journalist for
the Auckland Star and had
represented New Zealand at the
1934 Empire Games in London. |
|
1959 |
John Melville
died, working in the firm until
his death. |
|
1962 |
The firm became
known as Churton Brainsby & Hart
upon the admission to the
partnership of Andrie Hart. |
|
1975 |
Upon the death of Harold
Brainsby, Les Divers joined the
partnership as the partner
responsible for litigation. |
|
1979 |
The
firm was expanded by the
addition of Phillip Wong as a
principal. |
|
1987 |
Arthur Churton died, working
until the day he died. |
|
1999 |
Phillip Wong resigned from the
partnership, Andrie Hart became
a consultant and the firm name
was changed back to Churton Hart
& Divers. At the same time the
practice became based in
Highland Park after occupying
premises in the General Buildings
in Shortland Street for the
previous 60 years. |
HISTORY 
