Our History
Since 1921, Waterous Holden Amey Hitchon LLP (Waterous) has provided quality legal services in Brantford and Brant County. Over the years, we have developed a strong reputation as the leading law firm in our community. We offer sound legal advice, innovative solutions and a commitment to achieve the best possible results for the institutions, businesses, organizations and individuals we serve.
Reginald J. Waterous was born in Brantford in 1896. He decided to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, George Robinson VanNorman, who was a lawyer and became Brantford’s first Crown Attorney when the city was incorporated in 1853.
Reg became a student at Osgoode Hall law school and was only part way through his studies when the First World War began. Putting his legal studies on hold, he joined the army and before long he was a junior officer in the Canadian Expeditionary forces in France.
When the war ended in 1919, Reg returned to law school and was called to the bar in 1921. Reg founded the firm that is now known as Waterous Holden Amey Hitchon. He was appointed a King’s Counsel and was selected three times as Brantford’s mayor.
Reg also played a key role in Canada’s war effort in the Second World War. He was appointed Director of Human and Material Resources, working closely with C.D. Howe, Canada’s “Minister of Everything” in Mackenzie King’s war-time cabinet. When the war ended, Reg returned to his law practice in Brantford. He died unexpectedly in 1955.
Reg’s son, Richard N. Waterous, was called to the Ontario Bar three weeks after his father’s death. Dick immediately assumed responsibility for the practice. His friend, Clark Holden, joined the practice in 1959.
Dick and Clark then set about aggressively taking the firm in new directions. Together they led the development of the firm’s large business law practice. Clark has recently retired from active practice and currently acts Counsel to the firm. The firm continues to mourn the passing of Dick on March 21, 2013.
To provide suitable quarters for an expanding staff, Dick and Clark purchased a large and distinctive private residence at 20 Wellington Street in Brantford which, along with five other adjacent properties added later, has been home to the firm’s practice for close to 40 years.
The firm has been fortunate to attract some top lawyers, including Paul Amey, Burt Kellock, Patrick Corless, Kevin Davis, and Deborah Ditchfield.
In 1984 a significant addition was made when Peter Forbes, James Hitchon, and Peter Quinlan, who had already developed a substantial practice, merged their firm with the Waterous Holden Amey practice. The firm also celebrated partner Jim Kent’s appointment as a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that year. Shortly afterwards, Lorne Parkhill brought his mature real estate practice to the firm.
Over the years the firm’s professional and support staff has grown from 6 to over 60 in number, providing a wide spectrum of legal services to people, businesses and institutions.
Our firm is proud of its dynamic history, stability and capability. We are positioned to continue to play a leading role in the legal affairs of Brantford and the surrounding region.