Our Heritage
About Us
We are a long-standing legal practice founded over 100 years ago that continues with a modern approach to provide bespoke legal services to individuals and businesses on a range of legal matters.
Our journey started from humble beginnings in 1907, with our roots stretching back to our founder Charles Crane practicing as a sole practitioner in Whitwick, Leicestershire, with Cyril Thomas Walton joining the practice a year later at new premises in Coalville. Our rich traditional continues to date with the fourth generation of the Crane family practicing with us.
We have grown and evolved from a single site, traditional law firm to a multi-disciplinary and modern legal practice with a range of Experts and staff specialised in many areas of law.
We remain proud of our historical heritage and continue this legacy with the same loyalty and commitment to our clients whilst being in-tune with modern developments and constant changes in the legal world.
Please find our historical timeline below:
1920's
1926 – Cyril Walton admitted as a solicitor.
1928 – Charles Crane acquires the legal practice of Smith Mammatt and Hale (opened in 1877) in Ashby de la Zouch, inclusive of its offices. This remains today as this firm’s Ashby de la Zouch office.
Charles Crane appointed clerk to the Ashby and Coalville Magistrates’ court and Ashby Wolds Urban District Council.
1940's
1946/7/8 – Charles Crane appointed President of the Leicestershire Law Society.
Charles Crane acts for a number of local colliery companies and mineral owners in negotiating statements leading up to the nationalisation of the coal industry
Edwin Arthur Crane (son of Charles Crane) qualifies as a solicitor after war service and joins the partnership in 1950.
Leicester office moves to larger premises on London Road – famous for having being built by the Victorian detective “Tanky Smith” in the 1860’s.
1960's
New Partners including Ronald Hunt, Michael Smith and Arthur Crane taking over from the two founders and lead the practice from Coalville, Ashby de la Zouch and Leicester.
1960 – Bill Brooks and Tom Drever join the partnership
1965 – Roy Hunt and David Tams join the partnership.
1966 – Death of Charles Crane
1967 – Crane and Walton acquire another local Leicester city firm, J F George.
1980's
John Crane (son of Arthur Crane and Grandson of founder Charles Crane) admitted as a solicitor in 1980 and joining the partnership in 1983.
2000 to Date
2001 – Andrew Klimowicz joins the partnership.
2010 – Crane and Walton amalgamates llkeston based Chambers and Hind, previously the practice of Matthew Needham’s late Father, Hedley Needham.
2012 – Crane and Walton open new branch offices at Williams Yard, Melbourne, Derbyshire.
2013 – Major renovation works to Leicester office winning civic award for restoration of historical Victoria facade.
2008-2016 – A number of new members joining the partnership; Rebecca Taylor, Kiran Solanki, Kam Ubhi, Catherine Bee, Vijay Singh, Laura Doherty, Grace Marsh and Philippa Crane (daughter of John Crane and fourth generation of the family to join the practice).
2013 – Business structure changes from partnership to Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) by John Crane, Matthew Needham and Andrew Klimowicz.
1900's
1907 – Charles Crane starts to practice as a Sole Practitioner from his Mother’s house in Whitwick, Leicestershire.
1908 – Opens an office on High Street, Coalville, joining with Cyril Walton.
1930's
1930 – Charles Crane takes Cyril Walton into partnership and the partnership of Crane and Walton is founded.
1934 – Opening of office on Peacock Lane, Leicester
1950's
1950 – Arthur Crane and Michael Smith join the partnership as partners practising at Ashby de la Zouch and Leicester respectively.
1957 – Crane and Walton act in the case of Baker v. Hopkins decided in the Court of Appeal – a judicially important case involving the tragic death of Ashby GP establishes a new principal in the law of negligence.
1959 – Retirement of Cyril Walton.
1970's
A period of rapid expansion results in Crane and Walton having more partners than any other Leicestershire based practice of the time.
1971/72 – Arthur Crane appointed President of the Leicester Law Society.
1974 – Richard Adkinson, Peter Hunt, Geoff Arnold and John Maloney join the partnership.
1975 – John Davis joins the partnership with Joyce Kelsey becoming the firm’s first female partner.
1990's
1991 – Arthur Crane retires and Ian Smalley joins the partnership.
1996 – Matthew Needham joins the partnership.
1999/2000 – John Crane appointed President of the Leicestershire Law Society (Third generation of the family to hold the office)
Now
Crane and Walton LLP has a rich tradition and now looks forward to continuing to develop. We remain proud of our historical heritage and continue this legacy with the same loyalty and commitment to our clients whilst being in-tune with modern developments and the constant changes in the legal world.
Please find our historical timeline below:
1900's
1907 – Charles Crane starts to practice as a Sole Practitioner from his Mother’s house in Whitwick, Leicestershire.
1908 – Opens an office on High Street, Coalville, joining with Cyril Walton.
1920's
1926 – Cyril Walton admitted as a solicitor.
1928 – Charles Crane acquires the legal practice of Smith Mammatt and Hale (opened in 1877) in Ashby de la Zouch, inclusive of its offices. This remains today as this firm’s Ashby de la Zouch office.
Charles Crane appointed clerk to the Ashby and Coalville Magistrates’ court and Ashby Wolds Urban District Council.
1930's
1930 – Charles Crane takes Cyril Walton into partnership and the partnership of Crane and Walton is founded.
1934 – Opening of office on Peacock Lane, Leicester
1940's
1946/7/8 – Charles Crane appointed President of the Leicestershire Law Society.
Charles Crane acts for a number of local colliery companies and mineral owners in negotiating statements leading up to the nationalisation of the coal industry
Edwin Arthur Crane (son of Charles Crane) qualifies as a solicitor after war service and joins the partnership in 1950.
Leicester office moves to larger premises on London Road – famous for having being built by the Victorian detective “Tanky Smith” in the 1860’s.
1950's
1950 – Arthur Crane and Michael Smith join the partnership as partners practising at Ashby de la Zouch and Leicester respectively.
1957 – Crane and Walton act in the case of Baker v. Hopkins decided in the Court of Appeal – a judicially important case involving the tragic death of Ashby GP establishes a new principal in the law of negligence.
1959 – Retirement of Cyril Walton.
1960's
New Partners including Ronald Hunt, Michael Smith and Arthur Crane taking over from the two founders and lead the practice from Coalville, Ashby de la Zouch and Leicester.
1960 – Bill Brooks and Tom Drever join the partnership
1965 – Roy Hunt and David Tams join the partnership.
1966 – Death of Charles Crane
1967 – Crane and Walton acquire another local Leicester city firm, J F George.
1970's
A period of rapid expansion results in Crane and Walton having more partners than any other Leicestershire based practice of the time.
1971/72 – Arthur Crane appointed President of the Leicester Law Society.
1974 – Richard Adkinson, Peter Hunt, Geoff Arnold and John Maloney join the partnership.
1975 – John Davis joins the partnership with Joyce Kelsey becoming the firm’s first female partner.
1980's
John Crane (son of Arthur Crane and Grandson of founder Charles Crane) admitted as a solicitor in 1980 and joining the partnership in 1983.
1990's
1991 – Arthur Crane retires and Ian Smalley joins the partnership.
1996 – Matthew Needham joins the partnership.
1999/2000 – John Crane appointed President of the Leicestershire Law Society (Third generation of the family to hold the office)
2000 to Date
2001 – Andrew Klimowicz joins the partnership.
2010 – Crane and Walton amalgamates llkeston based Chambers and Hind, previously the practice of Matthew Needham’s late Father, Hedley Needham.
2012 – Crane and Walton open new branch offices at Williams Yard, Melbourne, Derbyshire.
2013 – Major renovation works to Leicester office winning civic award for restoration of historical Victoria facade.
2008-2016 – A number of new members joining the partnership; Rebecca Taylor, Kiran Solanki, Kam Ubhi, Catherine Bee, Vijay Singh, Laura Doherty, Grace Marsh and Philippa Crane (daughter of John Crane and fourth generation of the family to join the practice).
2013 – Business structure changes from partnership to Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) by John Crane, Matthew Needham and Andrew Klimowicz.
Now
Crane and Walton LLP has a rich tradition and now looks forward to continuing to develop. We remain proud of our historical heritage and continue this legacy with the same loyalty and commitment to our clients whilst being in-tune with modern developments and the constant changes in the legal world.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Thank you for an all-round excellent service.
– was put very much at ease
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