Herbert Geer

Herbert Geer was a prominent Australian commercial law firm with a rich history spanning over seven decades, ultimately merging to form Thomson Geer in 2014. The firm's origins trace back to 26 January 1939, when Keith Geer established his sole practice in Melbourne. Following the Second World War, the firm expanded, with Geoffrey Herbert joining in 1946, leading to its renaming as Herbert & Geer, primarily focusing on conveyancing. The partnership further evolved with the addition of Eric Rundle in 1950, becoming Herbert Geer & Rundle in 1960.

Throughout its growth, Herbert Geer demonstrated a commitment to broadening its practice. In the early 1970s, it gained significant recognition for handling the defendant's litigation for all workers' compensation claims arising from the Westgate Bridge collapse. A pivotal step in its development was the acquisition of an 11-person insurance litigation practice in 1985, which saw it become one of Victoria's largest in this field by 1989. By this time, the firm had 12 partners and 110 staff.

The firm expanded its national footprint, establishing a Sydney office in April 1999 and a Brisbane office in early 2001. In 2008, it rebranded simply as Herbert Geer and strategically merged with Brisbane's Nicol Robinson Halletts Lawyers and Sydney's boutique construction firm RDK, further solidifying its presence across Australia's eastern seaboard. Herbert Geer was known for catering to a diverse range of clients, including those in information technology, financial services, insurance, and capital markets.

Under the leadership of managing partners such as Bill Fazio (until July 2012) and John Cain (from August 2012), Herbert Geer remained at the forefront of significant legal matters. Notable achievements include its successful representation of iiNet, an Internet Service Provider, in a landmark Federal Court claim and subsequent appeals concerning copyright infringements, beginning in November 2008. The firm also successfully argued the High Court case of Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales in 2010, which set a crucial precedent in administrative and constitutional law. By March 2014, Herbert Geer merged with Thomsons Lawyers to form Thomson Geer, marking the conclusion of its independent operations and the beginning of a new chapter as part of a larger national firm.