About Us
Kitson Hutchings is a legal practice with over 100 staff with skills and experience spanning a wide range of legal matters.
Accreditations
Our membership of certified bodies and professional accreditations demonstrates our commitment to excellence and provides you confidence that your affairs are in good hands.
Our accreditations include:
Our charges
We offer competitive rates for our services and have a variety of options to suit you including:
- NO WIN - NO FEE for personal Injury claims
- FREE FIRST HALF HOUR CONSULTATION for personal injury
- LEGAL AID (Public Funding) for family and matrimonial matters
Our fees are calculated on an hourly or fixed fee basis. Fees are reviewed annually where we will notify you of any change. VAT and disbursements are added to fees charged and any disbursements made on your behalf are notified to you in writing beforehand.
Your understanding and control over your personal matter is important to us, so payment arrangements will be fully explained at the outset.
History
The firm Kitsons was established in 1826 by William Kitson, a local banker and solicitor, and who is described as the Maker of Torquay. He is recognised as the driving force behind the town's popularity. Described as "'the most opulent, the handsomest and most fashionable watering place in the British Isles", Torquay attracted royalty, leading families of Europe and many Victorian celebrities thanks to the vision of William Kitson. He was elected as a commissioner to an early form of local government in 1835 where he supervised the introduction of many basic amenities now taken for granted, including mains drainage, water supply and street lighting. Acting on behalf of the Palk family, who then owned the land in central Torquay (Cockington was owned by the Mallocks and Babbacombe & St Marychurch by the Carys), William Kitson devised a plan to create an exclusive residential area. New roads made the hills of the Warberries and Lincombes accessible and two acre parcels of land were then sold to wealthy clients who had elegant villas built overlooking the bay. Amongst the many outstanding examples of architecture was Hesketh Crescent, Meadfoot Sea Lane, where landowner Sir Lawrence Palk resided. Completed in 1848, it was described as the "'finest crescent of houses in the West of England". Upon his retirement from the management of the Palk Estate in 1874, a portrait of William Kitson was commissioned by public subscription and in 1923 his achievements were recognised by Torquay Council, who unveiled a memorial tablet (both are on view at the Town Hall) as "a permanent record of the great and valuable services rendered to the inhabitants of Torquay". His memory was honoured further in 1988 by Torbay Civic Society, when a blue plaque was placed above his former home and offices on Vaughan Parade, dedicated to "William Kitson - The Maker of Torquay".
The firm was continued by members of the Kitson Family during the remainder of the 19th Century. The last of them, Charles Kitson, retired in 1900. In 1972, the firm merged with Dymond & Co, to become Kitson Dymond & Easterbrook, later changing its name to Kitsons. In 1985, Kitsons acquired the practice of Curtis & Co in Ashburton and in 1989 opened a Newton Abbot office, later taking over the practice of Wilde & Co solicitors in Newton Abbot.
Ernest Hutchings who first practised law in Torquay in 1899 set up his own firm. He later joined Kitson Dymond and Easterbrook and the firm began practising under the name of Kitson Hutchings Easterbrook & Co. In 1945, Samuel Easterbrook and Ernest Hutchings agreed to part and Ernest Hutchings set up in practice with his son, John, at Carlton Chambers where they practised as Hutchings & Hutchings. They then merged with G Langwell Plum in 1948 and the firm became Hutchings Hutchings & Plum, later altered to Hutchings and Plum.
In 2001, Kitsons merged with Hutchings and Plum and become known as Kitson Hutchings.