No.16

We are rather proud of our offices at No. 16 Hill Street. The offices were specifically renovated to combine a traditional Jersey lawyer’s practice with the modern facilities and technology necessary for the efficient provision of effective legal services in the Twenty-First Century.

The façade of No. 16 Hill Street carries a small inscription “IP 1748”. The letters IP refer to Jean Perrochon who in 1746, purchased the land in La Vingtaine de la Ville upon which the property stands. The house which he built is substantially the same building which is now the offices of Benest and Syvret.

The building played its part even in its earliest days shaping the Island’s commerce. Jean Perrochon was one of the Jersey merchants who in 1768 formed a Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the oldest in the English speaking world. The principal purpose of the Chamber of Commerce in those days was to protect the shipping belonging to Jersey merchants that were trading with England, France and as far afield as Newfoundland.

By 1829 No. 16 was occupied by Madame Le Sueur who ran the premises as a hotel known as Le Hôtel des Trois Pigions which later it gave its name to La Rue that later became today’s Hill Street.

Towards the close of the 19^th Century the property was already in use as legal chambers, unsurprisingly given its proximity to Jersey’s Royal Court building. One of the earliest lawyers to practice from the building was Mr. Peter Falla, a Solicitor who coincidently was the owner of the first motor car in Jersey. The premises have since that time been consecutively occupied by different legal firms.

Many of the original features that would have been installed by Monsieur Perrochon when he constructed the building two and a half centuries ago have been retained and carefully restored. Joan Stevens in her survey of old Jersey houses noted that “the interior of No. 16 has distinction”.

Surrounded by elegant original architectural heritage a modern office has been laid out. Meeting rooms have been established to provide mediation suites. All principal meeting rooms have video conference facilities. Client facilities have specifically been designed and laid out to be child friendly with family clients in mind. Access for disabled clients is good notwithstanding the age and nature of the premises.

What is Lexcel?

• Designed specifically for the legal sector, Lexcel is the Law Society’s Standard for excellence in practice management and client care. It provides a management framework to develop consistent operational efficiencies, client service, and to manage risk effectively.
• Lexcel defines quality management procedures in seven areas: structure and strategy, financial management, information management, people management, risk management, client care, and file and case management.
• Achieving accreditation involves a rigorous on site assessment by an independent assessor appointed by the Law Society. Lexcel accreditation is awarded for three years, and annual re-accreditation and monitoring visits to ensure continued compliance.
• With ever-increasing competitive forces and client demands, it is vital for law firms to manage the quality and delivery of legal services. The quality management system that Lexcel requires demonstrates both a commitment and an ability to deliver services that exceed client expectations, improve overall satisfaction and achieve regulatory compliance.
• Lexcel is owned and managed by the Law Society of England and Wales. Assessments are carried out by one of three independent assessor bodies who are licensed by the Law Society. This ensures that the process is independent, objective and maintains meticulous quality control.