The firm was founded in 1948 at Karachi by two British Barristers, Charles Surridge and Peter Beecheno. Both the founding partners had a family history of legal practice in Rangoon (Burma) going back to the middle of 19th Century. Over the years firm expended and inducted several Pakistani partners and opened a branch office at Lahore, Pakistan and Chittagong the then East Pakistan. The last British senior partner was Mr. Frederick Campbell Gallaher, CBE, DSO, DFC & BAR and later a Solicitor. Through his efforts and skills as a Solicitor, the oldest law firm in the Country contributed to the Industrial development in Pakistan, which is well recognized by the foreign and local investors who have benefited from the Firm’s assistance. Mr. Gallaher at one time was Chairman and Director in almost all foreign Companies in Pakistan.
The Firm, with its office in Karachi, now has four partners and twenty-seven associates and has office in Lahore. The Firm also has correspondent lawyers all across Pakistan to conduct matters on the instructions of Surridge & Beecheno.
The Firm is dedicated to providing the highest quality legal representation to institutional and individual clients who demand the sophistication and expertise of a large law firm but who can also benefit from the more individualized client services (and cost effectiveness) offered by a specialized practice.
The partners of Surridge & Beecheno have acted as Chairmen and Directors of many companies set up in Pakistan and are active members of the International Bar Association and Inter-Pacific Bar Association and have read papers on different topics in various international conferences. The Firm provides legal services in almost all parts of Pakistan and has trained personnel specializing in different branches of law. The Firm while maintaining its position as the oldest law firm in Pakistan and highest quality of legal services, is committed towards making contributions to the legislative process, assisting courts and tribunals in setting new standards in enforcement prosecution practices. The Firm’s partners have appeared as counsel in many landmark cases and secured decisions by the Supreme Court of Pakistan laying down the law which is followed as precedents.
A partner in the Firm was elevated to the Bench of Sindh High Court and later to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and retired as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Upon his retirement, he was engaged as a consultant to this firm until his appointment as the Federal Tax Ombudsman, from which post he retired.
The Firm also provides to its clients the services of Negotiation, Mediation, Conciliation, and Arbitration. A number of partners are directors on the boards of some of Pakistan’s largest public companies and of many multinational private companies. They also assist and advise by their presence on the boards of various charitable institutions.