History
The practice was commenced on 7 July 1877 when Alexander James Dodds was admitted as a 'solicitor, attorney and proctor' of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. He later practised in partnership, as Abbott & Dodds, with Robert Palmer Abbott, sometime Member of Parliament.
John Sydney Richardson (a son of General Richardson who led the Australian contingent to the Boer War) was, in 1892, an articled clerk with the firm of Abbott & Dodds. At that time the firm had offices in the front rooms of a cottage in Castlereagh Street opposite the old Hotel Australia.
When Robert Abbott left the firm in 1895, John Richardson (by then admitted as a solicitor) became Alex Dodds' partner and the firm of Dodds & Richardson moved to the original City Mutual Building in Hunter Street.
While Alex Dodds retired in 1924, John Richardson continued the company and family law practice, employing Campbell Addison as a solicitor.
Campbell Addison, whose father had been a barrister and subsequently an industrial magistrate, was employed by John Richardson on the basis that, on John's death (which occurred in 1941), Campbell would take over the firm.
Campbell Addison joined the AIF in 1942 and moved his office to the Colonial Mutual Building at 14 Martin Place so that W R Thomson could act as his delegate until the end of the war.
In 1952 A E Rex Knox became Campbell Addison's partner, with another name change occurring - this time to Addison & Knox.
Campbell Addison's son, Anthony Addison, became a partner in 1964. As the practice grew, the number of employed solicitors expanded and there was a subsequent increase in the number of partners. Ian McCleary became a partner in 1976. The name of the firm was changed to 'Addisons' when Rex Knox retired in 1977.
Campbell Addison retired as a partner in June 1980 but continued with the firm as a consultant until 1991. In 1984, on the occasion of its centenary, the Law Society established a "Centenary Register", a register of all firms in New South Wales which could trace their origins back more than 100 years. Addisons was one of a handful of firms which qualified and much of this information was included in an article published in the Law Society Journal at that time.
In 1984 the partnership moved to the refurbished Culwulla Chambers, Sydney's first 'skyscraper' when it was completed in 1912.
David Blackburn joined the partnership in 1991.
In October 2004, Jeff Mansfield, Jamie Nettleton and David Selig were welcomed as partners at Addisons.
In April 2005, Karen Hayne, Martin O'Connor and Michael Ryan were also welcomed as partners at Addisons
In August 2005, the partnership moved to its current premises located at 60 Carrington Street, Sydney.
In October 2006 the firm welcomed Phil Stern and his team to the practice.
In February 2010, Laura Hartley was welcomed as a partner at Addisons.
In May 2010, the firm welcomed David Ferguson as a partner.