AS we all make our New Years resolutions and shut the door on another year – one law firm will look back at 2018 with particular fondness.

Paris Smith celebrated 200 years of business – their rich tapestry of history finely woven into that of Southampton’s.

It all began in 1818 when Certified Attorney Edward Bryant travelled from London to Southampton to set up the firm.

In 1900, Paris Smith began working closely with the maritime sector, writing up The Notes of Protest to record discrepancies between ship and shore figures and other perils of the sea.

Paris Smith registered a protest for Captain Edward Smith in respect of his previous ship RMS Olympic.

Later that year he became captain of RMS Titanic and was one of more than 1,500 to have tragically lost their lives when she sank on her maiden voyage.

The year 2001 was an important one for both Southampton and Paris Smith.

The firm’s legal skills enabled the relocation of two of of its biggest sporting clients – Hampshire County Cricket Club to the then Rose Bowl, now Ageas Bowl, and Southampton Football Club to St Mary’s Stadium.

Paris Smith spread their wings in 2015 when they opened their first Winchester office in Parchment Street, having worked on behalf of many Winchester-based businesses and individuals for a number of years.