Established Before 1729.

The firm dates back at least as far as 16th March 1729, when Edward Woodcock became the first solicitor in the country to register, after it became necessary to do so.

The firm has always practised from 2 New Square and the original building, then known as Serle Court, was completed in 1697.

The firm prospered under Woodcock and by 1762 he was the leading partner in a thriving practice that included many members of the Peerage and the Church amongst its clients.

There were a number of partnership additions throughout the 18th and early 19th Century and the firm had further offices in Six Clerk's Office in Chancery Lane.

On 14th January 1842, the majority of the New Square building was destroyed by a fire that burned for three days. Rebuilding was completed in 1850.

The first member of the Dawson dynasty, William Hill Dawson, became a Partner in 1855, and the line continued until the death of Colin Aufrere Dawson on 10th July 1958.The firm first became known as Dawson & Co in 1918 and in 2002 adopted the name by which it became generally known - Dawsons. On the 1 May 2007 Dawsons converted its status to a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). It is difficult to imagine how Mr Woodcock would react if he saw the firm today, with fully networked computers on every desk, on-line research facilities, and computerised time-recording, but it is hard to believe that he would not be impressed!