b'Rapid growth in the 1960s and 70sThe economic boom continued through the 1960s. Theintroduction of the firms first computer system and discovery of oil in Bass Strait attracted a wave of newcoordinate the digitisation of the firms accounts and records. investment and ushered in a mining boom across a broad base of coal, iron ore, nickel, bauxite and other resources.Before the 1960s most solicitors had been generalists, but The face value of mining shares listed on the ASX increasednow areas of specialisation began to emerge. Allen Allen more than 600 per cent between 1960 and 1970. The& Hemsley established a dedicated litigation team in the rapidly expanding mining industry kept all the firms busy.late 1960s, headed by Fred Millar (who had undertaken defamation work for Australian Consolidated Press). Millar Allen Allen & Hemsley strengthened its Americanpassed the mantle to Hugh Jamieson, an expert in patent connections and the energetic Fred Millar continued toand trade mark litigation, who led a number of high-profile attract more work particularly in the growing area ofdisputes that made headlines around the world. taxation. He worked at an intense speed and was renowned for dictating entire contracts, fully punctuated and formatted,The 1970s was another period of great change for Allen while pacing around the room.Allen & Hemsley. The firm was growing in both employee numbers and reputation but struggled to manage this Two new partners were appointed at Allen Allen & Hemsleygrowth during the period of economic stagnation in the in the 1950s, seventeen in the 1960s and a further fifteenmid-1970s. The departure of Fred Millar in 1968 and the in the 1970s. The influx of new partners and staff broughtretirement of Sir Norman Cowper and Gabriel Reichenbach in about a significant change to the dynamics of the office1970 destabilised the firm. However, by the end of the 1970s and it was no longer efficient for the partners to open thea new generation of partners had formed a management morning mail together as they once had. Satellite officescommittee and were planning for the future. In 1978 the established in surrounding buildings to accommodate thefirm relocated to the MLC Centre in Martin Place, where the new staff proved both inconvenient and inefficient.design was more open and integrated than the sombre, segregated office layout traditionally associated with law In 1963 the firm moved to the newly constructed P&Ofirms. Allen Allen & Hemsley was entering a new era.building on Hunter Street in Sydney. The building offered the latest modern conveniences, including air conditioningIn Melbourne, Arthur Robinson & Co and Hedderwick and venetian blinds. A new typing pool was establishedFookes & Alston underwent a similar period of growth. comprising nineteen women presided over by the formidableBoth firms began delegating responsibility for aspects Mrs Smidmore, who was guaranteed to respond to everyof firm management among the partners. They also request with the words, We are very busy down here.began organising their practices into specialist teams, particularly as clients established in- house legal teams The firm employed its first dedicated office manager, and specific expertise was required for increasingly Des Makepeace. This was the first time someone other thantransaction-based work. a partner had assumed responsibility for management. Over the coming years, Makepeace would oversee the 148'