Welcome...
We are a traditional firm of solicitors with offices in Lymington, Lyndhurst and New Milton.
Our History..Then
We are steeped in history and our roots go back to the year 1893 when Mr. HERBERT CULLIN HEPPENSTALL came to Lymington from Newark, Notts., where he had been in practice, and purchased the Lymington solicitors practice of Messrs. Coxwell & Pope. He occupied the first floor of 35 High Street, the ground floor of which was occupied by a Sadler and Harness Maker (35 High Street has since been removed to enlarge the entrance to the Wilts and Dorset Bus Station).
In the year 1896 Mr. Heppenstall moved to 75 High Street, which the firm still occupy to this day having only ever once vacated it in 1999 for extensive restoration works to the Grade II Listed Building and its main roof structure returning eighteen months later in February 2001.
Also in 1896 Mr. Heppenstall entered into Partnership with Mr. CHARLES EDMONDS who was in practice at Yarmouth I.O.W. The firm then carried on business at Lymington and Yarmouth under the name of HEPPENSTALL & EDMONDS until the year 1900 when the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Heppenstall retained the Lymington business and Mr. Edmonds that on the Island. The style of the firm then became HEPPENSTALLS & CO.
In the year of 1901 Mr. HERBERT KELSEY CLARK of Botley entered into Partnership with Mr. Heppenstall and the style of the firm became HEPPENSTALL & CLARK.
On the death of the Registrar of the Lymington County Court in 1916 Mr. Clark was offered the appointment which he accepted.
In the year 1920 it was considered that LYNDHURST and District would be a useful practice area and Mr. BASIL DONALD RUSTOM a Solicitor of Bristol, who joined the firm after the First World War, was invited to open an office there and to take sole charge of the interests of the firm there. Another branch office at NEW MILTON was opened on 6th February 1923,
Mr. Heppenstall retired in 1943 and Mr. Clark in 1946.
In 1946 Mr. JOHN CHEETHAM SELWYN ROWBOTHAM entered into partnership with Mr. Rustom and the style of firm then became Messrs. HEPPENSTALL RUSTOM & ROWBOTHAM with a staff at all offices of 20.
On the 5th April 1959 Mr. B. D. Rustom, who had been a partner in the firm for 36 years, became a Consultant .
Mr. PETER BASIL RUSTOM, the eldest son of Mr. B. D. Rustom, was articled to Mr. Heppenstall and on his father’s retirement he took over the management of the Lyndhurst office. He retired as Senior Partner in 1992 after over 50 years with the firm.
On 1st November 1962 Mr. B. D. Rustom completed his jubilee as a practising Solicitor having been admitted on 1st November 1912. Mr. Rustom was the third partner of the firm to have practised for over 50 years: Mr. Heppenstall from his admission in 1892 until his death in 1944, Mr. Clark from his admission in 1896 until his death in 1957 – and Mr. Rustom. Another record of which the present partners are very proud.
On 5th April 1964 Mr. JAMES PERCIVAL BURGESS who had been with the firm since 1947 and later articled to Mr. Blinkthorn at New Milton transferred to take charge of Lymington office. He had become a partner in 1962. He went on to become a County Court Recorder (one of the first Solicitors to be elevated to the judiciary) and retired from the firm in 1989 having completed over 40 years with the firm.
And Now...
Miss. SHEILA ELIZABETH TUFFIN joined the Lyndhurst staff as assistant Solicitor on 1st June 1971 and was admitted a Partner on 5th April 1974. She is the firm’s senior partner at the Lyndhurst Office.
Mr. NICHOLAS JOHN FILBEE who had been articled from 1968 to Mr. J. P. Burgess at Lymington was admitted as a Solicitor in 1972 and became a Partner on 5th April 1975 and continues to practice at Lymington office as Managing Partner.
Miss. CATHERINE MARY O'DEA was admitted as a Solicitor in 1972. She joined the firm at Lymington in 1977 and became a Partner at the Lymington Office in 1982.
Mrs. ALEXANDRA JENNINGS joined the firm as an Article Clerk at New Milton Office and was admitted as a Solicitor in 1980 and became a Partner at the New Milton office in 1986.
In 2000 the firm amalgamated with James Truman Moore of New Milton. Ian Coombes who was a partner with Messrs James Truman Moore at that time joined Heppenstalls as a consultant at New Milton Office.
Mr. MALCOLM LEATHERDALE qualified as a solicitor and has worked in private practice since 1976. He became a partner in 2002. He is a member of the Charity Law Association.
Mrs. SHEILA PULLEN was admitted as a solicitor in 1985. She joined the firm at New Milton in 1990 and became a partner in 2002. She is a member of the Child Care panel and the Family Law Panel.