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Boulton Cleary & Kern has a long and proud history. The firm commenced business in July 1932 at Denham Chambers under the name of FRANCIS J O'SULLIVAN & RUDDY. Mr James Francis Ruddy, a partner in the firm, came from Brisbane to conduct the Townsville Branch while Mr Francis J O'Sullivan continued to conduct the firm's business in Brisbane.
Frank O'Sullivan was an Irishman and an expert in the field of workers' compensation and visited Townsville on several occasions for workers' compensation cases.
Jim Ruddy remained in Townsville and carried on the business until 1941 when he returned to Brisbane because of the pressure of work there. The business in Townsville was conducted by Mr Morris L Williams, who was a partner in the firm of Casey & Williams, Solicitors of Ipswich, until the end of 1945 when Mr Mario Giudes purchased the business.
During the war years, 1939-1945, Morris Williams and Mr Ian Roberts were the only active solicitors in Townsville and there were many stories about them and their clients. Morris Williams appeared for four American negro soldiers who were charged with the rape of an American W.A.C., found guilty and sentenced to death. Morris Williams made representations to President Roosevelt who commuted the sentence of death to life imprisonment.
When Mario Giudes purchased the practice at the end of 1945, he moved to Giudes Chambers and continued business on his own behalf until 1962 when he took Mr John Martin Nehmer into partnership. The firm then traded under the name of GIUDES & NEHMER.
Mr John Boulton, who had been practising at the Bar for some years mainly in criminal law, joined the partnership in early 1966. The firm then became known as NEHMER & BOULTON.
In 1967 the firm moved to premises in Sturt Street , occupying part of the first floor of a new commercial building owned by a firm new to Townsville, known as Custom Credit Corporation.
The firm moved to 2-10 Walker Street , known as "NBS Chambers", on the first floor in 1969 and in that same year Don Cleary became a partner.
At the end of 1972 the firm changed its name to NEHMER BOULTON & CLEARY, which remained unchanged until March 1980 when the partnership assumed the name BOULTON CLEARY & KERN.
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John Boulton was appointed a Notary Public, which is an appointment by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1975. He retired as a partner in 1995 but remained a valuable member of the firm as a consultant until he passed away in 2003.
The firm moved to the ground floor of NBC Chambers Building in 1981 after extensive renovations. In January 1985 the firm extended its offices to also include the first floor of NBC Chambers.
In October 1998, the firm moved out of the CBD to purpose-built premises on the corner of Woolcock and Sabina Streets in West End . In July 2004 the firm extended its premises to accommodate its rapidly growing business and again in December 2005 extended its practice to incorporate the entire building at the Lakes. 'The John Boulton Building ' is now located close to the city, with plenty of free on-site parking for the convenience of our clients and staff.
Mr Keith Kern became a partner in July 1976 at the age of 24, immediately following completion of his Articles of Clerkship and admission as a solicitor. He retired from the partnership on 30 June 2007, having been a partner for 31 years, and is now Special Counsel.
John Boulton joined the firm, which still bears his name, in 1966. He was Senior Partner from 1974 until his retirement from the partnership in 1995. He then became a consultant to the firm and remained so until he passed away in January 2003.
Mr Boulton was initially admitted as a solicitor in Queensland in 1960 and worked in the Commonwealth Crown Solicitor's Office until he was admitted as a barrister in 1961. Before joining the firm, Mr Boulton had been practising at the bar, returning to his work as a solicitor in 1966. He practised law for a total of 43 years.
Mr Boulton contributed enormously to his church and to local sporting and community associations. He was committed to his clients and did a considerable amount of work on a pro-bono basis and was never known to turn away a client in need on account of their inability to pay. He also contributed to the legal profession, acting as a Senior Counsellor for the Queensland Law Society from August 1994.
His invaluable contributions have set a standard of service and a reputation that will stand forever in the history of Boulton Cleary & Kern Lawyers.
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