Slater & Gordon
An Australian consumer-focused law firm known for personal injury, class actions and other plaintiff-side legal services.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Slater & Gordon is an Australian consumer law firm founded in Melbourne in 1935 by solicitor and Labor politician Bill Slater and barrister and solicitor Hugh Lyons Gordon, who were brothers-in-law. The firm developed a reputation for representing individuals, workers, unions and other groups in disputes against large companies, public authorities and institutions. Its work has included personal injury, asbestos disease, medical negligence, employment, military law, family law and class actions. The firm’s history is closely associated with plaintiff advocacy in complex and socially significant litigation. It represented people affected by asbestos exposure at the Wittenoom mine in Western Australia and pursued claims connected with contaminated blood products, defective medical devices and breast implants. In 2005, it helped negotiate a settlement with James Hardie for people suffering asbestos-related diseases. It also acted for detainees held at the Manus Regional Processing Centre in Papua New Guinea, leading to a settlement approved by the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2017. Slater & Gordon became one of the earliest law firms in the world to become publicly listed when it floated on the Australian Securities Exchange in May 2007. The listing supported an expansion strategy that eventually took the firm into the United Kingdom. In 2012 it entered the British market through the acquisition of Russell Jones and Walker and subsequently acquired several other practices, becoming a substantial consumer-law operator in the UK. Its UK business covered personal injury, clinical and medical negligence, employment, family law, regulatory work, business advice, media and privacy law, and representation of the Police Federation of England and Wales. The UK expansion created substantial financial and operational pressures. In 2015 Slater & Gordon agreed to acquire the professional-services division of Quindell for £637 million. The transaction later became contentious after Quindell restated earlier financial results and attracted regulatory and criminal-investigation attention. Slater & Gordon pursued legal action against the vendor. In February 2016, trading in the company’s shares was suspended around the release of results that included very substantial losses and impairments, much of which related to the Quindell acquisition. A recapitalisation approved by lenders and shareholders in December 2017 separated the UK operations from the Australian group and transferred most of the company’s issued capital to its senior lender group. The Australian business continued under a reconstituted board and management team, with John Somerville appointed chief executive in 2018. In 2023 Allegro Funds made an off-market bid for the company and completed the acquisition in April. Slater & Gordon subsequently ceased trading as a listed entity. The operating law firm remains associated with the Slater & Gordon name and continues to provide consumer-oriented legal services in Australia.
History
Slater & Gordon was established in Melbourne in 1935 by Bill Slater and Hugh Lyons Gordon. Its founders combined legal practice with a strong interest in representing workers and people who lacked the resources to oppose larger institutions. Gordon was killed while serving with the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War, but the firm continued and gradually built a practice centered on individuals, unions and community interests. During the second half of the twentieth century, the firm handled complex personal-injury and public-interest matters. Its work included claims by asbestos miners connected with Wittenoom, litigation involving environmental damage associated with the Ok Tedi mine, cases concerning medically acquired HIV, and claims relating to defective intrauterine devices and breast implants. The firm’s role in asbestos litigation culminated in a 2005 settlement with James Hardie benefiting people affected by asbestos-related diseases. The firm experienced a serious internal financial crisis in the 1980s. Jonathan Rothfield became its sole owner in December 1985 and worked to stabilize the practice and restore profitability. Slater & Gordon later pursued a different form of expansion by incorporating and floating on the Australian Securities Exchange in May 2007. This made it one of the earliest publicly traded law firms internationally. Beginning in 2012, the company expanded into the United Kingdom through acquisitions. Russell Jones and Walker was the initial major transaction, followed by practices including Fentons, Goodmans Law, Taylor Vinters, John Pickering and Partners, Pannone, Leo Abse & Cohen and Walker Smith Way. The UK business became a significant consumer-law provider, with practices covering personal injury, clinical negligence, employment, family law, regulatory defense, business advice, media, libel and privacy. In 2014 it was described as one of the largest international law firms operating in the UK by revenue. The 2015 acquisition of Quindell’s professional-services division for £637 million became a turning point. Quindell later restated reported profits as a loss, while UK regulators and the Serious Fraud Office examined matters connected with the company. Slater & Gordon pursued legal action against the seller, and the acquisition contributed to major impairments and losses disclosed in 2016. The company’s share trading was temporarily suspended during that period. In December 2017, lenders and shareholders approved a recapitalisation under a scheme of arrangement. The transaction reduced secured debt, separated the UK business from the Australian operations and gave the senior lender group approximately 95 percent of the issued capital. The Australian company appointed a new board and John Somerville became chief executive in 2018. The UK practice thereafter operated separately from the Australian group. Allegro Funds made an off-market bid in early 2023 and completed the acquisition in April. Slater & Gordon then ceased trading as a listed company. The brand continues to identify a consumer-oriented Australian legal practice, although its ownership and corporate structure differ from those of the former ASX-listed group.
- 2023
Allegro Funds acquisition
[1]Allegro Funds completed its acquisition of Slater & Gordon, ending the company’s public-market trading.
- 2017
Manus detention class-action settlement
[1]The Supreme Court of Victoria approved a $70 million settlement involving 1,923 former Manus Regional Processing Centre detainees.
- 2017
Recapitalisation and UK separation
[1]A scheme of arrangement reduced debt and separated the UK operations from the Australian group.
- 2015
Quindell professional-services acquisition
[1]The company agreed to acquire Quindell’s professional-services division for £637 million.
- 2012
UK market entry
[1]The company entered the UK through the acquisition of Russell Jones and Walker.
- 2007
Australian Securities Exchange listing
[1]Slater & Gordon became one of the first law firms globally to list its shares publicly.
- 2005
James Hardie asbestos settlement
[1]The firm helped negotiate a settlement for people suffering asbestos-related diseases linked to James Hardie.
- 1985
Jonathan Rothfield assumes sole ownership
[1]Rothfield took sole ownership while the firm faced a severe financial crisis and worked to return it to profitability.
- 1935
Firm founded in Melbourne
[1]Bill Slater and Hugh Lyons Gordon established Slater & Gordon in Melbourne, Victoria.
Products and positioning
A consumer-focused plaintiff law firm emphasizing access to legal representation, compensation claims, class actions and complex disputes involving corporations, employers, medical providers and public authorities.
Legal services
Personal injury law
Representation for people seeking compensation after workplace accidents, transport incidents, negligence and other injuries. The practice is part of the firm’s core consumer-law offering and has historically included occupational disease and large-scale injury matters.
Legal services
Class actions
Group litigation for people with related claims against companies, institutions or public authorities. Slater & Gordon has acted in matters involving environmental damage, asbestos exposure, detention conditions and other collective harms.
Legal services
Medical and clinical negligence
Legal advice and representation for patients alleging negligent treatment, defective medical products or other medically caused injury. Historical matters have included contaminated blood, faulty intrauterine devices and breast implants.
Legal services
Employment law
Advice and representation concerning workplace rights, disputes, termination, discrimination and related employment claims. Employment work has been part of both the Australian and former UK service portfolios.
Legal services
Family law
Advice and representation in family-related disputes and litigation. Family law was a substantial practice area in the former UK business and remains among the consumer services associated with the brand.
Legal services
Military law
Specialist legal assistance for current and former military personnel, including matters connected with service, injury and military administration.
Controversies
2016
Major losses and share-trading suspension
Trading in Slater & Gordon shares was temporarily suspended around the release of results showing losses of approximately A$1 billion, with a substantial portion attributed to write-downs associated with the Quindell transaction.
2015
Quindell acquisition controversy
Slater & Gordon’s acquisition of Quindell’s professional-services division became controversial after Quindell restated previously reported profit as a loss. The UK Financial Conduct Authority required the restatement, the Serious Fraud Office investigated Quindell and related matters, and Slater & Gordon brought legal proceedings against the vendor.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquisition by Allegro FundsM&ABackground
After years of financial restructuring, the publicly traded company became the subject of a private-equity takeover.
Action taken
Allegro Funds implemented an off-market bid and completed the acquisition in April 2023.
Aftermath
Slater & Gordon ceased trading as a listed company and continued under private ownership.
2017
Recapitalisation and separation of UK operationsStrategyBackground
The company faced heavy debt and the consequences of the failed UK expansion.
Action taken
Lenders and shareholders approved a scheme that reduced secured debt, separated the UK subsidiaries and issued new shares primarily to senior lenders.
Aftermath
The UK business ceased to be owned by the Australian group, while the Australian company continued under a new board and management structure.
2015
Acquisition of Quindell professional servicesM&ABackground
Slater & Gordon pursued rapid growth in the UK legal-services market through acquisition.
Action taken
The company agreed to purchase Quindell’s professional-services division for £637 million.
Aftermath
The deal was followed by accounting controversy, investigations, litigation and substantial impairments.
Purchase price. £637 million (2015 transaction announcement)
2012
Entry into the United KingdomM&ABackground
The company aimed to broaden its consumer-law platform beyond Australia.
Action taken
It acquired Russell Jones and Walker and followed with additional UK law-firm acquisitions.
Aftermath
The UK business became a large personal-injury and family-law provider, but its expansion later contributed to significant financial pressure.
2007
Public listing on the ASXStrategyBackground
The firm sought capital and a corporate structure capable of supporting expansion while remaining focused on consumer legal work.
Action taken
Slater & Gordon incorporated and floated its shares on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Aftermath
The listing made the firm one of the earliest publicly traded law firms internationally and enabled a later acquisition-led expansion.
Recent events
- 2023
Allegro Funds completes acquisition of Slater & Gordon[1]
M&A
Australian private-equity firm Allegro Funds completed an off-market acquisition, after which Slater & Gordon ceased trading as a listed company.
- 2017
Creditors and shareholders approve Slater & Gordon recapitalisation[1]
Other
A scheme of arrangement reduced secured debt, separated the UK operations from the Australian group and transferred most issued capital to senior lenders.
- 2012
Slater & Gordon enters the United Kingdom through Russell Jones and Walker acquisition[1]
M&A
The firm began its UK expansion by acquiring the consumer law practice Russell Jones and Walker.
- 2007
Slater & Gordon lists on the Australian Securities Exchange[1]
Other
The firm became one of the first law firms in the world to become publicly traded.
Sources2 sources
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