1824
John Wadsworth sets up as an Attorney in Fletcher Gate.
1827
Perry Parr and Ford founded.
1839
Maples and McCraith founded.
1840
George Bell Rothera articled to Coroner Browne
1844
Wadsworth and Patchett founded
1845
George Bell Rothera qualified/admitted as a Solicitor
1846
George Bell Rothera appointed Deputy Coroner of Nottingham City
1850s
Rotheras founded by George Bell Rothera.
1859
Clarke Carter & Rothera established
1860
Watson and Wadsworth founded.
1870
Dowsons founded by Benjamin Dowson at 13 Weekday Cross.
1874
Rothera & Sons formed by George Bell Rothera, Charles Lambert Rothera and Frederick William Rothera
1874
Dowson and Wright formed.
1870s
Solicitor Arthur Thomas Ashwell (umpire for Notts County in 1850s at the time Frederick Rothera played) formed a practice with John Johnstone (Ashwell and Johnstone Solicitors) at no. 14 Fletcher Gate. Ashwell and Johnstone Solicitors dissolved in 1889 and Johnstone went on to form his own practice circa 1890s. Ashwell forms a practice with George Tutin.
1880
Frederick William Rothera appointed Deputy Coroner
1881
George Bell Rothera appointed Nottinghamshire Law Society President
1890s
John Johnstone amalgamated with Samuel Williams to form Johnstone Williams Solicitors-based at 6 Weekday Cross.
1891
Charles Lambert Rothera appointed Coroner of the city of Nottingham
1903
Wilfred Stewart Rothera qualified
1903
Charles Lambert Rothera appointed Nottinghamshire Law Society President
1905
Ashwell and Tutin Solicitors based at St Peters Gate dissolved.
1909
Arthur Ashwell lends money to Ernest Terah Hooley, going bankrupt in 1911 after taking liabilities on Hooley’s behalf.
1910
Young and Pearce Solicitors formed by RA Young and Frederick Pearce Snr.
1920
Watson, Crewdson and Wadsworth formed
1930
Frederic Wadsworth (son of John Wadsworth), principal of Watson, Crewdson and Wadsworth, dies
1930s
Anthony Rothera is articled to his father Wilfred Stewart Rothera’s firm
1934
Wilfred Stewart Rothera appointed Coroner
1936
Anthony Rothera qualified
1936
Nurse Waddingham inquest case held; Wilfred Stewart Rothera Coroner of case
1936
Sir Hubert Dowson appointed President of national Law Society
1937
German and Soar established by Clive German and Arthur Soar.
1937
Wilfred Stewart Rothera appointed Nottinghamshire Law Society President
1939
Enfield and Co incorporated into Dowsons.
1939
Dowson, Wadsworth and Co formed.
1940s
Johnstone Williams Walker Solicitors formed (John Johnstone had died and Samuel Williams and Clifford Sydney Walker were partners)
1946
Anthony Rothera appointed Coroner
1950s
Charles Anthony Sharp becomes a partner.
1951
Rothera Sons and Langham forms, based at 24 Friar Lane, Nottingham
1951
Beeston office of German and Soar opens.
1951
Firm becomes Johnstone, Sharp and Walker Solicitors.
1965
Beeston branch of German and Soar moves to 103-105 High Road.
1965
RW Hall and Co founded.
1965
Anthony Rothera appointed Nottinghamshire Law Society President
1960s
Clifford Sydney Walker retired and son Clifford Arthur Walker became a partner.
1968
Ian Rothera articled to Rothera Sons & Langham (qualifies in 1973)
1969
Rothera Sons & Langham act for 3 Nottingham Police Officers (Raymond Whitney, Barry Hulse and Ronald Stevenson) charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice relating to the authenticity of tape recordings as evidence following an enquiry by the News of the World
1970s
Peter Franklin Gordon Johnstone joins firm.
1970s
Long Eaton and West Bridgford (under name of Johnstone Sharp & Wood) offices open.
1971/2
Rotheras formed by merger of Rothera Sons & Langham with Perry Parr & Ford, Maples & McCraith and RW Hall & Co
1972
The grandson of Herbert Johnstone took over the firms of Turpin and Walker (not related to Clifford Walker) and Martin and Sons.
1979
Johnstone Sharp and Walker office at Arnold opens.
1980s
Firm becomes Sharp and Partners.
1980s
Young and Pearce open office in Burton Joyce.
1982
Sharp and Partners Calverton office opens.
1982
Office opens at West Bridgford (under Johnstone Sharp & Wood, Rossell House, Tudor Square until 1992)
1983
Ian Rothera becomes Deputy Coroner and is the 6th member of the Rothera family to hold the position of Coroner or Deputy Coroner for the city
1983
Anthony Rothera (great grandson of George Bell Rothera) made Britain’s first honorary coroner
1986
Wollaton office of German and Soar opens.
1988
Dowson, Wadsworth and Sellers merge with JH Husbands and Son at Rectory Road West Bridgford office, known as Dowson, Wadsworth & Sellers with JH Husbands & Son
1990
Rotheras move into 2 Kayes Walk.
1993
Ian Rothera holds Inquest as Deputy Coroner into the deaths of 3 Miners killed in the Bilsthorpe Pit Disaster
1998
Nottingham office of Tallents Godfrey and Co, incorporated into Young and Pearce.
1999
Gillespie and Co. incorporated.
1999
Rothera Dowson formed.
1999
Amy Rothera articled to Rothera Dowson
2001
German and Soar incorporated into Rothera Dowson.
2002
Amy Rothera qualifies, becoming the 6th generation of Rothera family in the firm
2012
Sharp and Partners merges with Young and Pearce to become Sharp Young & Pearce.
2016
Rothera Dowson and Sharp Young & Pearce merge to form Rothera Sharp.
Images reproduced by kind permission of Nottingham Local Studies Library, Angel Row, Nottingham and Andy Nicholson of www.nottshistory.org.uk