Our Firm, Our History

History of Aughtersons, Solicitors

On the 1st April 1964, William (Bill) Aughterson established the legal practice known as ‘W.H.Aughterson’ from his then residence at 10 Devon Avenue Heathmont. On the 15th October that year, Bill acquired offices at Station Entrance Ringwood where he conducted his practice until the 15th July 1965 when he moved to larger premises at the Drive in Shopping Centre, 86 Whitehorse Road Ringwood. On that date, Tony Giblett commenced as an employee and as Bill’s first Articled Clerk, successfully undertook a part time law course from 1966 to 1971 inclusive.

On the 1st July 1968, the name of the legal practice was changed to ‘Aughterson and Lamb’ under which name it continued until 30th June 1970 when the name was expanded to ‘Aughterson Lamb and Williams’. Whilst Ainslie Lamb was not a proprietorship partner, she was a valued senior member of staff from 1967 until 1977 when she resigned to further her career in the law. Ultimately she became a Professor of Law at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales.

In January 1970, Brian Williams commenced as an employee and on April 8th that year, his wife Margaret joined as an employee. They both worked as Associates until the 1st March 1972 when, along with Tony Giblett, the three of them purchased the practice from Bill Aughterson who then retired. The name of the practice was simultaneously changed to ‘Aughterson Giblett and Williams’. Bill Aughterson and his family travelled to England and after a short period as an advocate for the Students Society at Essex University, Bill established a legal practice in Colchester which blossomed into a three person partnership.

On the 23rd August 1973 Tom Hassard commenced as an employee and was admitted to partnership on the 1st January 1975 joining Tony Giblett and Brian and Margaret Williams.

On the 1st March 1976 the practice moved its offices to the 1st Floor 156 Maroondah Highway Ringwood. On the 30th April 1979 Brian and Margaret Williams retired from the partnership but Margaret remained as an employee until the 1st October 1981.

On the 1st November 1976 Gary Vick commenced as an employee and undertook a part time law course during the years 1978 to 1983 inclusive whilst articled to Tony Giblett.

On the 1st May 1979 the practice stabilised its name to ‘Aughtersons’ which name has remained unchanged ever since.

In October 1980 Peter Milford commenced as an employee and on the 1st December 1983 he and Gary Vick joined Tony Giblett and Tom Hassard in a partnership quartet.

Tom Hassard and Tony Giblett remained in the partnership with Gary Vick and Peter Milford until the 31st July 1987 when Tom and Tony simultaneously retired. Peter and Gary continued as co-partners. Tony was engaged as a consultant solicitor to Aughtersons from 1989 to 2004. Tom Hassard enrolled to practise at the bar and after five years as a barrister, was appointed a Magistrate and later a Judge of the Magistrate’s Court, until his retirement at the end of November 2009.

On the 6th January 1993 the practice was relocated to 267 Maroondah Highway Ringwood from where it continues to operate to this day.

On the 1st August 1994 Richard de Gille was admitted to the Aughtersons partnership, joining Gary Vick and Peter Milford.

Upon Gary Vick’s retirement from the practice on the 30th September 2000 and his pursuit of opportunities in the commercial world, Glen Egerton, who had commenced as an employee in March 1989, was admitted to partnership with Peter Milford and Richard de Gille.

The partnership continued until 31 December 2013 whereupon Aughtersons became an Incorporated Legal Practice from 1 January 2014. The three partners became directors of Aughtersons Lawyers Pty Ltd.

On 1 August 2014 Richard de Gille retired as a director of Aughtersons Lawyers Pty Ltd snd remained with the company as a senior consultant in the Commecial Law Department.

On 1 August 2014 Santina Della-Rossa, who commenced with Aughtersons as an Articled Clerk in February 1999, together with Nisar Parkar who commenced with Aughtersons in April 2010, became directors of Aughtersons Lawyers Pty Ltd,together with Peter Milford and Glen Egerton.

With the retirements of Peter Milford and Glen Egerton, Liam O’Brien, who joined Aughtersons in 2009, and Kathy Adams, who commenced with Aughtersons in 2003, became directors of Aughtersons Layers Pty Ltd.

With the passing of Nisar Parkar in 2023, the firm is now directed by Santina Della-Rossa, Liam O’Brien, and Kathy Adams.