In the early 1960's Canberra was in the midst of developing its grand buildings, avenues, parks and filling Lake Burley Griffin. This time of dramatic growth for the region also saw the establishment of Snedden Hall & Gallop.

The original partners, Norman Snedden, Allan Hall and John Gallop laid the foundation of the firm which has become the Territory's largest independent law firm. Norm Snedden began as a sole practitioner in 1960 and was joined in partnership by Allan Hall in October of that year, forming “Snedden & Hall”. John Gallop joined the firm in September 1962 and thus formed Snedden Hall & Gallop. That same year, the then Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, opened the Law Courts Building situated in Knowles Place and the first sittings in the Court took place in May. Snedden Hall & Gallop was one of the first firms to defend the rights of its clients in the new courts.

The firm was originally located in offices in East Row in the city centre. However, as the region and the firm grew, a change in location was necessary. In 1963 Snedden Hall & Gallop relocated to 39 London Circuit in the City.

Government policies in the 1960's saw the relocation of many Public Service Departments to Canberra, which then experienced a rapid influx of people. This saw an expanding need for legal services in Canberra. The firm grew. By the end of the 1960's the firm was a broad-based practice covering areas such as conveyancing, mortgage work, leasing, acting for small businesses and all types of litigation.

The early seventies saw the continuation of the Vietnam War, a time of change and transformation. Snedden Hall & Gallop continued to grow and a number of new partners joined the team. As new technologies were launched in the 1980's Snedden Hall & Gallop moved with the times. Since then the firm has advanced further , and currently employs the most up to date technology and specialist lawyers to assist the firm in catering for its clients' many needs. As a firm serving the ACT and surrounding regions Snedden Hall & Gallop has grown with the community.

Approximately 10 years ago, at around the same time as the government moved into New Parliament House, Snedden Hall & Gallop relocated to 11 London Circuit in the city.

The firm incorporated in 2007 and is now officially known as Snedden Hall & Gallop Pty Ltd.  In May 2007 the firm relocated to the leafy suburb of Deakin.  Our modern office is located at 43 - 49 Geils Court Deakin. 

Where are the founding partners of Snedden Hall & Gallop now?

Norm Snedden retired from the partnership in 1977 and for some years practised at the Canberra and Sydney bar before commencing a sole practice at Nelson Bay on the central coast of NSW until he retired from legal practice altogether in 1991.

After Allan Hall left the partnership in 1973 he took up an appointment as the inaugural Principal Lecturer in Law at the CCAE (now the University of Canberra) with the task of developing their Legal Studies courses. After resigning his position at the CCAE in 1977, Allan was appointed to quasi-judicial office as the first full-time senior member of the newly created Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Also in 1977 Allan was appointed as a part-time Commissioner of the Australia Law Reform Commission. He held that position until 1979. In 1982 he was appointed as a full-time Deputy President of the Tribunal, a position that he held until his retirement in 1987. In 1992, Allan was made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of “outstanding service to administrative law in Australia at a critical stage of its development.”

John Gallop retired from the firm in 1973. He practised for some years at the Bar in the Australian Capital Territory and was appointed as Queen's Counsel in 1977. In 1978 John was appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. Shortly thereafter he was appointed as a presidential member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Later he was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Christmas Island. In 1982 he became a resident Supreme Court Judge of the ACT. In 1999 John was made a Member of the Order of Australia. He served on the Bench with distinction until July 2000, retiring on his seventieth birthday.

Snedden Hall & Gallop has grown with Canberra's expanding needs, adjusting to a dynamic environment. Although Canberra is the seat of both National and Local Government, the majority of Canberrans are employed by a fast growing private enterprise. Dedicated to satisfying the needs of its clients, the firm has evolved into the largest independent firm in the region.