Chris Mowat, who was one of our founding Partners, who has been a well-known member of the region’s business community for decades, is retiring.
Along with three colleagues, Chris founded Palmers Solicitors on 1 August 1983. In the nearly four decades since, he has been instrumental in developing Palmers to become the thriving four-office practice it is today.
When Palmers was founded it had offices in Basildon, Benfleet and South Woodham Ferrers. While the Benfleet office closed in February 1995 as part of an effort to expand the specialist legal services offered by the firm, Palmers has opened offices in Thurrock and Rayleigh in the intervening years.
At the end of January 2014, Chris retired from his position as a Partner of the firm but has served as a Consultant Solicitor in the Private Client department over the subsequent seven years.
In an interview to mark his retirement, Chris said: “I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every minute of my time at Palmers.
“At the outset, we had a clear vision for a law firm offering a full range of specialist legal services across South Essex, without the need for businesses or individuals to need to seek advice from London firms. I believe we have achieved this.
“The firm has not stood still and has adapted to changing needs over the years, whether that’s the coming and going of major companies in the region, such as Ford, or major housing development.
“However, the one thing that has remained constant has been the commitment to putting clients first at all times.
“We set out aspiring to be the best law firm in South Essex and I take great satisfaction in having achieved this and knowing that the firm remains in good hands under the leadership of the current generation of Partners.”
One of the current generation of Partners at Palmers Solicitors is Lee McClellan, who joined the firm in 1996 when Chris was Training Partner.
He said: “We will be very sorry to see Chris go. His contribution to the development of Palmers and to the region’s business community has been immense.
“In the 24 years I have known Chris, he has always shown a remarkable level of energy and commitment to making a difference for our clients, which has been inspirational to the young solicitors he has helped develop as Training Partner.
“Chris’ energy has also been evident away from the office, where he has served as a Churchwarden, a Trustee of the Roger Reede Almshouse charity in Romford and as an active member of his local Probus club.
“All of us here at Palmers are grateful to Chris for his contribution, both towards making the firm the successful practice it is today but also for developing so many of us as professionals.”