Essex law firm Partner celebrates 25 years' service

Peter Allen, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at Birkett Long celebrated 25 years’ service at the firm this August.

Peter joined in August 1997 and was made a Partner in June 2000. In his time at the firm he has been team leader of the Dispute Resolution team and Head of the Commercial department. Peter is also a long serving Board member.

Peter specialises in construction and commercial litigation. He is also a qualified Notary Public.

Peter has seen the firm grow considerably over the past 25 years expanding its presence from the north of Essex to cover the region and beyond. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is Birkett Long’s commitment to its community.

Birkett Long prides itself on being here for good and Peter is instrumental in being closely involved in his local community. This year he is working with Farleigh Hospice after one of his very close friends received end of life care there and they are continuing to provide bereavement care to the family.

Peter has had an eclectic career at Birkett Long and has many memories of the past 25 years.

In the very early days - when smoking at work was the norm - he recalls going into a colleague’s room and not being able to see if anyone was behind the desk as the cigarette smoke was so thick!

As a young and newly qualified lawyer who had been burning the candle at both ends, he remembers finding post on his desk ready to be signed with no recollection of how it had arrived. A colleague later told him she didn’t want to wake him as he looked so peaceful. 

Peter remembers one of his clients had a case that hit the national newspapers. Peter gave a statement to the press and the Judge contacted the barrister he had used threatening to order that they both appear before him to explain why he had made the statement!

Peter made an appearance at Lord’s Cricket Ground to represent a bowler in a bowling action review. The bowler’s action was passed after Peter’s advocacy.

No stranger to the cricket ground, Peter fondly recalls hitting a six in a cricket match at the Essex County Cricket ground.

Peter’s legendary solo dance to ‘Noah and the Whale’ at a Chelmsford office Christmas party has gone down in Birkett Long’s history as has his performance as Prince Charming, riding a horse around the Colne Valley Golf Club dining room at another Christmas party.
However, Peter’s greatest memories are of all the great people he has worked with - both past and present - including those who have retired or moved on to pastures new and particularly those colleagues who have passed away.

On hitting 25 years’ service Peter said “Let’s hope I don’t have to do another 25 years! I hope that I can continue to be a major contributor to the success of Birkett Long and use my experience of the past to inform change.”