Borthwick and Butler, now operated by the company B&B Legal Pty Ltd, is one the state's oldest law firms, a fact which sits very well with now former owner Bill Liston.

The business will remain status-quo from the outside, with the Glen arm to remain operating as Liston Legal out of its Grey Street location.

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Now a senior solicitor, Mr Liston said selling to them had been the right choice at the right time, with thoughts of succession on his mind.

He knew principal Lachlan White was interested in buying the firm, so it was a matter of reaching out to see if his interest was still strong.

"It was time for me to be thinking about succession, and Lachlan's a very capable and energetic solicitor," Mr Liston explained.

"We've had along association with Borthwick and Butler, and the staff here are excited about the changeover as well.

"There will be continuity, and I'll be working here for several years yet."

Mr Liston said there'd always been a strong legal connection with Inverell and Glen Innes, referencing a history book of his which outlined solicitors had been moving to and fro between the towns right from the 19^th century.

"He goes back to 1867, we go back to 1935, so he beats us hands down!" Mr Liston laughed.

With around 20 employees including administration staff, B&B Legal said this latest addition will enable them to "continue providing a high level of services to Glen Innes, Inverell and the greater New England area".

Principals Lachlan White and Ian Dun, together with solicitors Stephen Collins, Ian MacDonald, Brodie Verri, Gabrielle Robinson and graduate solicitor Isabelle McDougall, said they were looking forward to working with Bill Liston and his team "for many years to come".

While the Liston Legal name remains, they are joining a company that has seen wide expansion in the New England in the past 24 months.

B&B Legal acquired another of Glen Innes's legal firms, MacDonald and MacDonald Solicitors, in early 2020.

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Ian MacDonald, who was the previous principal solicitor there, will now work from the Liston Legal location.

The business now collectively represents over 150 years worth of legal knowledge and experience.

"It is important as a firm to have a wide range of skills and resources, and we have that now," Mr Liston stated.

Familiar personalities - Debbie Burton, Carolyn Hamilton, Tracey Waters and of course Bill Liston as senior solicitor - will remain at the office and will be joined by a number of new faces.

Kylie Alexander, who has been with B&B Legal in Glen Innes for a number of years, will continue her work at the new office.

Liston Legal can trace its history back to 1935, where it traded under the name of 'Windeyer and Havyatt".

Henry Liston made the move to Glen and joined Mr Windeyer following the retirement of Mr Havyatt in 1947.

The firm has had several name changes since the death of Mr Windeyer, including Liston Britt and Campbell, Liston and Campbell, Liston and Loveband, and Liston and Clifton.

The firm had been practicing under its current name of Liston Legal since 2013, when Bill Liston became the sole practitioner.

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