Deacons was established in Hong Kong in 1851 and is Hong Kong’s oldest law firm. The firm takes its name from a young English solicitor, Victor Deacon, who arrived in the burgeoning British colony of Hong Kong in 1880 to join the legal practice established by William Bridges in 1851. Within two years, the irrepressible Deacon was made a partner and within 20 years, under his own name, he had firmly established Deacons as one of the colony's leading law firms, a position it has retained to this day. Deacons grew steadily throughout the 20th century, flourishing during Hong Kong's post-war boom. By the mid-1970s Deacons was a busy, full-service business law firm and a highly respected name in commercial circles throughout Asia. Other interesting dates in the firm's history are: 2008 Deacons is awarded Hong Kong Law Firm of the Year by Asian Legal Business China and Managing Intellectual Property 2008 Deacons is ranked a Global Top 50 firm for the fifth consecutive year by PLC Which Lawyer? 2007 Deacons is awarded Asia Pacific Firm of the Year by Legal Business and Hong Kong Firm of the Year by Managing Intellectual Property and Who's Who Legal. 2006 Deacons is awarded Hong Kong Law Firm of the Year by IFLR, Asian Legal Business and Asian Legal Business China. 2005 Deacons Hong Kong is the first firm to be awarded a third foreign law firm licence in mainland China. 2002 Deacons Hong Kong established a representative office in Beijing and was one of the first Hong Kong law firms to be granted a licence to open a second office in the PRC. 2001 Deacons Hong Kong celebrated its 150th anniversary. 2001 Deacons signed an association agreement with a local law firm in Malaysia. 1999 Deacons opened a representative office in Shanghai. 1998 Deacons opened an office in Singapore. 1994 Deacons Hong Kong received a licence from the Ministry of Justice to operate a representative office in Guangzhou. 1993 Deacons opened an office in Taipei and affiliated with a local Taiwanese law firm. 1992 Deacons formed an association with the Australian firm Sly & Weigall, which has since changed its name to Deacons. 1991 Deacons formed an association with a Thai law firm in Bangkok. 1990 Deacons established a consulting company in Jakarta and formed an association with a local Indonesian law firm. 1986 Opened initial presence in the People's Republic of China in Beijing. 1962 Deacons moved from the historic Prince's Building, which had been zoned for demolition, to Union Building. This later became the location of Swire House and today Chater House. 1912 The Hong Kong Supreme Court moved to what is now the Legislative Council building. 1904 Deacons offices moved to the recently-completed Prince's Building, a luxury four-storey building at 1 Des Voeux Road on the new Chater reclamation. 1901 The larger firm required bigger office space - Deacons moved to Ice House Street. 1860 With offices on Queen's Road, Deacons was based close to the Supreme Court (now the location of Queen's Theatre). 1851 Deacons Established . Today, the firm is the centre of a dynamic and successful regional network, which includes Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the People's Republic of China, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.