Firm history

Finn Roache had its genesis in the admission to legal practice of Edward Michael Finn in the Central Western New South Wales town of Canowindra, in the year of Queen Victoria's death, 1901. Before admission, "Ted" (as he was known), served his articles of clerkship with Mr Peter Hollingdale of the famous law firm Freehill Hollingdale & (later) Page. Ted was the eldest of fourteen children, and two of his brothers followed him into the law.

Denis Eugene was admitted to practice in 1917 and practised in partnership with Ted until Ted's death in 1939. Denny continued to practice law at Canowindra in partnership with his son Raymond until Denny's death in 1961.

The second youngest boy, Felix Aloysius served his articles of clerkship under Ted at Canowindra, and later, in Sydney, but the day he was admitted to legal practice, on the 8th June 1921, Felix "hung his shingle" outside his new office on the first floor of the old Swain's Building at 121 Pitt Street, Sydney.

Thus, the firm now known as Finn Roache was born, with Felix practising on his own account for some years but, just after the Second World War, taking in as a partner, Patrick Harvey Roache, a distinguished commercial lawyer of his day.

Two of Felix's five sons also studied law. Kevin Joseph joined the practice of Finn Roache & Co as a partner in 1956. Christopher Michael, the current principal of the firm, became a partner on the 9th February 1968.

After Pat Roache retired from the practice, for a period of time from 1977, Kevin and Chris practised law separately on their own account, with Chris employing his father, Felix, as his consultant until Felix's death in 1981. After that, Chris spent fifteen years as a partner of the commercial law firm, Parish Patience, ending up as its senior partner, before his retirement from the firm in 1995 to set up practice again on his own account as Finn Roache lawyers.