F.C Bryant Thomas & Co boasts a strong link to the community.
The legal firm has had three generations of the Bryant family of the helm and in May celebrated 90 years in Rockdale.
The original firm of F C Bryant & Co was established in 1927 by Frederick Charles Bryant at Station House in the Tramway Arcade at Rockdale.
At the time he was considered a pioneer, having been one of the first sole practitioners to venture into the suburbs from the larger city firms.
In 1951 his son John Bryant joined the firm and continued a tradition that saw his son Gordon also join the firm in 1980.
Over the years other partners have joined the firm but it was on July 1, 1999, F C Bryant & Co became F C Bryant Thomas & Co when the former principals, Gordon Bryant and Pat Stemp, were joined by Ken Thomas.
Gordon Bryant said it was a sense of tradition and being around the practice that led him to follow in his father’s footsteps.
‘’I was always around here I guess, nobody applied the thumb screws but I think my father was very happy for me to do it,’’ he said.
‘’I think there was a lot less pressure on me than on my father, there was no question what he was going to do.’’
As for working with his father there was ‘’no doubt.’’
‘’It never occurred to me whether I should go to another firm,’’ he said.
Over the years he has seen two recessions and experienced the building boom around St George.
He said it was the stability the practice offers that has seen it stay in business for 90 years.
‘’I think we’re pretty accessible in that people can usually get to talk to one of solicitors and not necessarily have to rely on paralegal staff,’’ he said.
‘’The firm has always been very service focused and we’re always very conscious of making sure our clients are satisfied and are being told what’s going on.
‘’I think an important part is stability and being in the same place.
‘’We’ve stuck to what we’ve always done.
‘’I’d like to think we still have the same service that my grandfather had.’’
One of the most memorable cases he had was one of his first when a young man had a paperclip thrown in his eye.
The practice celebrated 90 years in May with a special lunch with current and past staff.