Company Background

Swinburne & Jackson is one of the oldest family practices with a single
family lineage.

The company started effectively when Thomas Swinburne was admitted to
the Rolls in 1816 having served his Articles or Indentures with Joseph Willis
a Practicing Attorney at Law in Gateshead who then took him into the Partnership in 1820.  The practice was known as Willis and Swinburne and Thomas Swinburne rapidly prospered becoming the First Vice-President of the Newcastle and District Incorporated Law Society in 1825.  He was also responsible for securing the Royal Charter for the Borough of Gateshead in 1832.  He had been joined by his son, whom he had aptly named Joseph Willis Swinburne who continued to run the practice which had then become Swinburne and Willis after his father's death.  Joseph Willis Swinburne became Town Clerk of Gateshead in 1856 and held that office until his retirement in 1888 when his place was taken by William Swinburne, who held the same office until 1925. 

Joseph Willis Swinburne was joined in his practice, not only by his son William but at differing and later times by no less than three more of his six sons, Henry, Arthur and Charles.  The Firm's name which had been J.Willis and Swinburne in 1820 had changed to Swinburne and Willis in 1840 and in 1884 became J.W. & W. Swinburne.  When William Swinburne become Town Clerk it seems it was felt inappropriate that he should continue in private practice and he duly retired from the Practice which changed its name in 1906 to H & A Swinburne. 

Hugh Leslie Swinburne was admitted in 1925 but did not join his uncles initially.  He practiced in Durham City under the name of H.L. Swinburne and Co. and after the Second World War moved to Gateshead to join his surviving uncle, Charles and shortly thereafter a new firm Swinburne and Jackson was formed. Hugh Swinburne was succeeded by his son Nigel Lowden Swinburne who was joined in the practice by his sister Lalage, son Christian and daughter in law Rachel. Nigel Swinburne sadly died in 1999 but his other family members remain in the practice.

Swinburne and Jackson have continued to flourish and now have offices in Gateshead, Washington, Chester-Le-Street, Ryton and Hexham and are well placed to serve the legal needs of the local community.