Celebrating 50 Years of Practice – Rob Ffrench
On 14 March 2025, we celebrated a remarkable milestone – 50 years since Rob Ffrench was admitted as a Solicitor. This half-century of legal practice is a testament to Rob’s enduring commitment to his clients, colleagues, and the legal profession as a whole.
Rob began his career in Sydney, working alongside his father, John Ffrench, in the family firm. In the early 1980s, he moved to Queensland – or as Rob fondly calls it, “the better State” – and embarked on a new chapter, serving as principal across several partnerships over the following 45 years.
In 2012, Rob and his team at Ffrench Legal – including his wife, Judy – joined Bell Legal Group. Since then, we have benefited from the combined strength of our firms, and more importantly, from the exceptional depth of experience, wisdom, and perspective Rob brings with him every day.
When reflecting on his career, Rob shared that longevity in the profession comes from perseverance through inevitable challenges and a deep appreciation for the support of family and friends. He attributes much of his journey to having loving people around him – those he could confide in, learn from, and lean on when needed. His love for the traditions and practice of law has remained constant throughout, as has his passion for the English language and its precise use in legal contexts.
Rob also spoke about the importance of working alongside loyal and knowledgeable staff, cultivating a respectful and cooperative workplace, and building meaningful, lasting relationships with clients. For him, being a trusted advisor – sometimes across generations – has been one of the great privileges of his work.
Interestingly, Rob has always had a keen interest in legal technology. He and his firm were among the earliest adopters of word processing technology in Sydney – well before the era of personal computers – and he was instrumental in developing one of the first computerised trust account systems for suburban practices. He fondly recalls the arrival of their first “real” photocopier – a hulking Xerox machine – and reflects with humour and pride on the ever-evolving tech landscape within legal practice.
Rob also shared some guiding principles that have shaped his approach over the years: treasure the privilege of looking after your clients’ interests; never let the pursuit of money define your role as a solicitor; love what you do; stay humble and open to criticism; and remember that you can always learn from others. He believes strongly in being someone others can turn to for support and in honouring the long-standing traditions of the legal profession.
On behalf of everyone at Bell Legal Group, we extend our warmest congratulations to Rob on reaching this significant career milestone – and our heartfelt thanks for the leadership, integrity, and wisdom he continues to share with us all.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (07) 5597 3366
