{{Short description|Former Australian commercial law firm}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox law firm |name = Freehills |logo = 170px |headquarters = MLC Centre<br>Sydney, Australia |num_offices = 5 |num_attorneys = |num_lawyers = 800+ lawyers and 190+ partners |num_employees = 1,750+ |practice_areas = Corporate and commercial |key_people = Gavin Bell, CEO/Managing Partner |revenue = $565 million (2011-12) |date_founded = 1852 |founder = |dissolved = 30 September 2012 to form Herbert Smith Freehills |company_type = Partnership |homepage = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120212094407/http://www.freehills.com/ www.freehills.com]}}
'''Freehills''' was a commercial law firm operating in the Asia Pacific region. It was one of the Big Six Australian law firms. In 2012 it merged with Herbert Smith to become Herbert Smith Freehills.
==History== The firm's predecessors include the practices Clarke & Moule in Melbourne (1853), Stephen Henry Parker in Perth (1868), Bernard Austin Freehill in Sydney (1871) and John Nicholson in Perth (1896).
The Sydney firm became Freehill Hollingdale & Page in 1947 and began to grow under the direction of partner Brian Page, who took the firm into corporate and commercial practice within Australia and internationally.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120413183700/http://www.freehills.com/5351.aspx Firm history] Freehills</ref> Page was also notable for his open employment policy, hiring Catholics and Jews when many other firms would not.<ref>{{cite web|date=2 June 2011|title=The makings of a national firm: Freehills|url=http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/features/the-making-of-a-national-firm-freehills|publisher=Lawyers Weekly|access-date=12 September 2020|archive-date=17 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517103353/http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/features/the-making-of-a-national-firm-freehills|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 1978 Freehill Hollingdale & Page became the first major Australian law firm to appoint a female partner.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110712083912/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/women-take-third-of-new-partnerships-in-legal-profession/story-e6frg97x-1226090156472 Women take third of new partnerships in legal profession] ''The Australian'' 8 July 2011</ref> In 1979 Muir Williams Nicholson & Co, Perth signed an agreement with Freehill Hollingdale & Page to form Australia's first national law partnership.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19791218&id=cwxiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MecDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2584,7085946 Agents] ''Sydney Morning Herald'' 18 December 1979</ref>
In 2000, the state Freehill Hollingdale & Page partnerships became a single national partnership and was rebranded Freehills.<ref>[https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/page-changed-practice-of-law-20080801-jem7p Page changed practice of law] ''Australian Financial Review'' 1 August 2008</ref>
In 2012, the firm had over 800 lawyers and over 190 partners.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chambersandpartners.com/Global/Firms/5682-46041 |title=Chambers Global |access-date=29 May 2012 |archive-date=24 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724030248/http://www.chambersandpartners.com/Global/Firms/5682-46041 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 1 October 2012 Freehills merged with international law firm Herbert Smith to form Herbert Smith Freehills with a single global equity partnership.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121014034833/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-28/herbert-smith-to-merge-with-freehills-open-in-new-york.html Herbert Smith To Merge With Freehills, Open In New York] ''Bloomberg News'' 28 June 2012</ref>
==Operations== ===Offices=== Freehills had Australian offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane; and an office in Singapore.<ref>[http://www.company360.com.au Company360] Freehills Services Pty Ltd Dun & Bradstreet</ref> It was associated with the firm Soemadipradja & Taher in Indonesia, Frasers Law Company in Vietnam, and TransAsia Lawyers in China.
===Pro bono services=== Freehills had a pro bono program which, under the leadership of the late Keith Steele, saw the establishment of the Shopfront Youth Legal Centre in Kings Cross.
The firm seconded solicitors to a number of community legal centres and services including the Public Interest Law Clearing House in Victoria, the Kingsford Legal Centre.<ref>Man of steel and compassion ''Australian Financial Review'' 19 June 2009 page 46</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=11 June 2009|title=Vale Keith Steele (6 April 1951 – 7 June 2009)|url=http://www.freehills.com/5091.aspx|accessdate=14 November 2011|publisher=Freehills|archive-date=4 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004031145/http://www.freehills.com/5091.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Greenwoods & Freehills== In 1985, Greenwoods & Freehills was established in Sydney as a specialist tax practice when accounting firm Greenwood Challoner and Freehill, Hollingdale & Page tax practice merged. Offices opened in Melbourne (2005) and Perth (2012) In 2008, the Greenwoods & Freehills merged with Shaddick & Spence to create Australia's largest specialist tax practice.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150301074455/http://www.greenwoods.com.au/about/history/ History] Greenwoods</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240607234800/https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/big-four-firms-get-tax-rival-in-australia Big four firms get tax rival in Australia] ''Accounting Today'' 7 March 2008</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120212094407/http://www.freehills.com/ Official website] {{Big Six|state=collapsed}}
Category:Law firms established in 1852 Category:Law firms disestablished in 2012 Category:Law firms of Australia Category:1852 establishments in Australia Category:2012 disestablishments in Australia