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A brief history of the practice
On his return from the Second World War, Myer Julius Canter founded the firm of
Solicitors which was to become Canter Levin & Berg. Mr Canter (known as
"MJ") was an intermediate judge at the Nuremberg Trials and was a
close friend of the then Attorney General and chief Nuremberg prosecutor, Lord
Shawcross, who subsequently became a lecturer in law at Liverpool University
from 1953 to 1973.
MJ set up his practice at 15 Victoria Street in Liverpool City Centre in 1947.
The firm specialised in litigation and conveyancing. After a few years, MJ
merged the practice with Ian Levin and Milton Mannheim. Mr Mannheim died in
February 2002 after a lengthy illness. The merged practice operated from
separate addresses until moving into Temple Court in Victoria Street in 1957
which was the location of the firm until 1985.
In 1961, Ian Levin's brother Harry joined the firm as a partner. He became a
leading industrial law specialist and was well known for his work in connection
with dock accidents. He was affectionately known as "the dockers'
lawyer".
In 1967, Alan Berg ("AB") joined as a partner. He was a successful
and highly respected criminal advocate and succeeded Myer Canter as senior
partner.
In 1970, Mr Canter set up the first workers' co-operative based in Kirkby,
Merseyside, obtaining for it a £2 million grant from then President of
the Board of Trade, Tony Benn. He drafted the constitution for the co-operative
which is displayed in the House of Commons and which has become a standard
precedent for such organisations. In addition to work for the Labour Party, the
firm also provided personal legal services for Harold Wilson. Ian Levin was a
well-known local Councillor. He became Lord Mayor of Liverpool and was
subsequently made an Alderman of the city.
Following his appointment, Alan Berg identified the need to expand to provide
legal services beyond Liverpool city centre. As a result, a branch was opened
at the then new town of Kirkby, about 10 miles north east of Liverpool. The
opening of the branch coincided with the opening of the town's magistrates
court.
Some four years later, a second branch office was opened in another new town,
Skelmersdale in Lancashire. The office became quickly established as a centre
for community based legal services.
In 1977, Harry Levin died after a short illness and Myer Canter retired the
following year. Alan Berg remained as senior partner until 1994 when he became
a stipendiary magistrate. Lee Heaven, who joined the firm
in 1975 and became a partner in 1979, succeeded Mr Berg as senior partner. Lee
is reponsible for the overall management of the practice and partnership
matters.
An office in St Helens, Merseyside, was opened in 1982. The
office quickly expanded and is now based in prestige offices at Century House
in the heart of the town. Resident partner Ian Fitzpatrick
is also head of our road traffic accident department.
Two years later, the Liverpool city centre practice relocated to extensively
refurbished offices "around the corner" on the junction of Stanley
Street and Mathew Street, renowned as the location of The Cavern and a popular
haunt for Beatles devotees and international tourists.
In February 2001, our main office in Liverpool relocated
from Stanley Street to fully refurbished offices located at 1 Temple Square,
Dale Street.
The Kirkby office is run by Mark Flynn and Richard Sibeon
supervises operations at Skelmersdale.
The practice was joined in 1989 by Phil Moy, formerly a
magistrates court clerk and now head of our crime department.
Administration of the practice is now supervised by a managing committee of
partners and our partnership secretary and HR manager is
Nicola Rowe. In 2003 Louise Burns-Lunt joined the firm as
Finance Manager.
In August 2000, Peter Mitchell (crime), Romilly Houghton (personal injury) and
Michelle Berry (family law) were appointed as partners.
Richard Hughes (crime) and Claire Jansz (personal injury) are both based at our Kirkby office and both were
appointed as partners in August 2004. In 2005 the partnership was further
expanded with the appointments of Tracey Miller (private family law), Ian Troop
and Mark Warner (both road traffic). Rita Krumins (road traffic) and Richard
Sibeon (Skelmersdale resident partner) have recently rejoined the firm as
partners.
The firm is committed to the highest quality practice management standards and
holds franchises for the provision of legal aid services for crime and family
law. We are recognised as an Investor in People and we have secured Lexcel
accreditation which is the Law Society's quality mark for provision of legal
services. In 2008, we are one of the leading general practices in the north
west of England and our staff of over 200 provide a full range of legal
services to our local, national and international clients.
