Going Back...
1822 -
Albert Norton Richards born in Brockville, Ontario - Ontario's first incorporated town
1848 -
Albert Norton Richards called to the Bar of Ontario
1864 -
John A. MacDonald defeated the Albert Norton Richards in by-election and "that victory ... Gave MacDonald a crucial majority and, as one thing leads to another inplicates, that majority ...set the stage for Confederation"
Albert Norton Richards appointed Solicitor General of Ontario
New Beginnings
In 1871 Emily Carr was born, but also on...
March 12, 1871
Albert Norton Richards gave notice of intention to apply to be placed on roll of barristers in BC
May 16, 1871
Albert Norton Richards admitted to practice as barrister in colony by Chief Justice Begbie
July 19/20 (midnight)
British Columbia became a province
BC's Second Lieutenant Governor
September 30, 1875 -
ANR's Brother Sir William Buell Richards became the first Chief Justice of the newly created Supreme Court of Canada
July 28, 1876 -
Albert Norton Richards sworn in as BC's second Lieutenant Governor
Drama in the 1880s
1884 -
Law Society of British Columbia incorporated
1886 -
Albert Norton Richards threw his wig and walked out of court objecting to Judge Begbie's interruptions
1887 -
Oscar Wilde sits for portrait by
ANR's daughter - while sitting he exclaimed "what a tragic thing it is - this portrait will never grow old and I shall" - this to become the plot of
The Picture of Dorian Gray
A Time of Change
March 10, 1893 -
William Senkler Buell called to the Bar of British Columbia (previously called in Ontario, 1891)
June 1895 -
John H. Senkler marries Margaret Hargrave Richards - ANR's youngest daughter
March 6, 1897 -
Albert Norton Richards passed away in Victoria
A New Century
1900 -
William John Bowser named Queen's Counsel
1904 -
John H. Senkler appointed Royal Commissioner to revise and consolidate the rules concerning the practice and proceedings of the country courts and the Supreme Courts of British Columbia
A Year of Achievements
1907 -
William John Bowser named Attorney General
Robie Lewis Reid named Kings Counsel
George Cornelius Van Horne called to the Bar of British Columbia (April 8)
A Year of Establishments
1908 -
The University of British Columbia was established - the first University Act was drafted by predecessor firm of Richards Buell Sutton
John H. Senkler appointed member of Canadian Olympic Committee, clearly he was {more than a suit}
Staking our position
1913 -
Robie Lewis Reid served as a member of the UBC Board of Governors until 1935
Bowser Reid and Walbridge claim locker #1 in the newly built BC Courthouse (currently the Vancouver Art Gallery)
Dec 15, 1915 -
William John Bowser replaced R. McBride as premier of British Columbia
Senkler's Time
1924 -
John Harold Senkler retained by the Chinese Benevolent Society and acted for the wrongly accused Wong Foon Sign in the infamous Vancouver case of Janet Smith
1925 -
John Harold Senkler becomes treasurer of Law Society of British Columbia
Interruption
1933 -
William John Bowser dies delivering a speech at the Hotel Vancouver to an elite gathering decision makers
Reach for the stars
1944 -
Mt. Robie Reid named for Robie Lewis Reid - located in Golden Ears National Park
Global Presence
1984 -
Pacific Rim Advisory Council established - founding firm Cumming Richards (Richards Buell Sutton predecessor firm)
Merger of three
November 1, 1985 -
Richards Buell Sutton was formed by merger of three long-established Vancouver firms: Sutton Braidwood, Buell Ellis and Richards Underhill Fraser and Skillings
Roots can be traced back to 1871, the year BC joined Canada, when Albert Norton Richards founded the forerunner of Buell Ellis. The Sutton Braidwood firm was started in 1891 and Richards Underhill Fraser Skillings began in 1919.
East meets West
1986 -
Vancouver hosts Expo '86
During Centennial celebrations of Vancouver (1886-1986) Richards Buell Sutton was honoured as one of the 21 Pioneer Enterprises of the city.
1987 -
Yong Xian Xu, the only Chinese woman to have practised law in China at that time, spends a year at Richards Buell Sutton to learn Canadian law
International Representation
1991 -
Klaus Priebe, RBS partner, named BC Luxembourg Counsel
RBS visits the Supreme Court of Canada
June 21, 2006 -
Richards Buell Sutton LLP partner Colin Millar, an amicus curiae, at Supreme Court of Canada on Leskun v. Leskun
* Amicus Curiae "is someone, not party to a case, who volunteers to offer information to assist a court in deciding a matter before it"
A Year of Gold
2010 -
Vancouver/Whistler play host to the 2010 Winter Olympics - Canadian team finished first overall in gold medal wins with a total of 14 Gold Medals
Birthday Suits
2011 -
Richards Buell Sutton LLP celebrates their 140th Anniversary, establishing their presence as BC's Oldest Law Firm
