RPC (Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP) is an international law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom with offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bristol. RPC employs around 1,100 people across its four international offices - including 137 Partners and over 500 lawyers. The firm is managed by a Partnership Executive Committee led by the Managing Partner, currently James Miller. The current Senior Partner is Commercial Partner Oliver Bray.[1]
The firm traces its origins back to 1898, when Nathaniel Reynolds set up Hannay & Reynolds with fellow solicitor Alexander Arnold Hannay. This alliance did not last, however, and Reynolds set up as a sole practitioner in 1903 in Arundel Street in the Strand, London. In 1906 his son Hugh joined the practice, which was renamed Reynolds & Son. The firm then continued as Reynolds & Son until 1923, becoming Reynolds & Sons when another son, David Reynolds (admitted in July 1919), joined the firm. With the addition in 1926 of Gerald Thomas Gorst (admitted in March 1924), the firm then continued under various names until 1962: Reynolds Sons & Gorst, Reynolds & Gorst, and Reynolds, Gorst & Porter (Charles Porter admitted 1935, joined in 1944). In 1962 it became Reynolds Porter & Taylor Jelf. It finally became Reynolds Porter & Co in 1963.
Chamberlain & Co originates from Walter John Chamberlain, who was born on Christmas Day 1869 and was admitted in March 1906 aged 37. For the first year he practised alone in Croydon but then formed Chamberlain & Co in 1907 on moving to No. 1 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, London. Walter was Mayor of Croydon from 1927 to 1929 and also became Clerk of the Fine Art Trade Guild. His son, Francis Walter Chamberlain, was admitted in December 1913 but did not join the firm until 1919 (presumably after war service). Francis Walter Chamberlain was eventually appointed CBE and sat as a Justice of the Peace and was a Deputy Lord Lieutenant.
The two firms came together in 1971, a year after the death of Walter Chamberlain's son, to become Reynolds Porter Chamberlain & Co. The '& Co' was dropped from the name around ten years later.
Market reputation
In recent years, the firm has grown its capabilities and practice via both internal promotions and high-profile lateral hires, often from U.S. and silver circle firms.[2][3] The firm has grown its reputation in commercial while continuing to invest in its insurance practice, and is regularly involved in litigation where the other parties are represented by U.S. and Magic Circle firms.[4]
RPC's clients come from a broad range of sectors, from tech giants such as Google and Meta, global insurers, hedge funds, major European banks and asset managers through to luxury goods, major retailers and high-street brands, publishers and broadcasters.[5]
