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When the first incarnation of what is now Walkers Inc offered legal services to Cape Town in 1828 it was under the name of C Cadogan who later formed a partnership with John Reid in 1834.
In 1839 the Cadogan falls out of Cadogan and Reid. For a little short of a decade John Reid practises for his own account. Around 1848 he is joined by his brother Henry and later, apparently, by his son.
In 1860, its 32nd year in practice, the firm adopts a name destined to endure for nearly a century: Reid & Nephew. In the 1950s, a merger occurred.
The venerable firm Reids, joined forces with Montgomery Walker and, for some 30 years, was called Walker Lewis Godley & Field. It eventually incorporated into Walkers Inc. in 1999.
Around this time the firm was involved in several important cases, giving landmark rulings in fields including administrative law and succession.
Walkers was involved in several high-profile matters, including the demutualisation of Old Mutual. This was one of the most significant developments in the history of South African financial services, and gave about 4-million policyholders the opportunity to become shareholders in the new company.
The two firms have a business relationship that reaches back into the mid-1800s.
Walkers was also at the forefront of the upliftment of the Cape Town CBD, acting for property owners converting office space to loft house-style accommodation and providing the necessary complex legal and commercial knowledge.
Believing that there was an urgency to demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the transformation of the legal services sector, Walkers chose not to wait until the Legal Services Charter was in place before seeking BEE accreditation. It sought, and gained, the highest ratings possible for direct empowerment.
Walkers has evolved with the times – from hand-written briefs to internet communications - yet retains its time-honoured quality of committing to use its wealth of legal knowledge and expertise to deliver the highest level of legal service.
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