Skip to content

About Us

Solicitors:

William J.A. Hardie

Paul L. Brown

John M.E.Hardie

Introduction to the firm.

History and development of Messrs. W.&J.S. Gordon

1793– The firm was founded by William Meffan, Writer in Forfar, by November 1793. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Forfar Volunteers on 13th November 1801. On 8th September 1828 he assumed his son Patrick Meffan as partner, under the firm name of “William and Patrick Meffan”. He died on 12th March 1829, having been Provost of Forfar from 1819/24.

1858– His son Patrick Meffan, by August 1858, had assumed David Crighton as partner with the firm name then “Meffan & Crighton”. Patrick Meffan was Provost of Forfar from 1840 to 1849. He died on 11th August, 1863.

1872- David Crighton carried on under his own name, then by 1872 in partnership with William Gordon (who had been unable to continue as a banker as his hand was injured in a shot-gun accident). The firm was then designated “Crighton and Gordon”. By 1880 William Gordon was carrying on the firm under his own name.

1898– William Gordon assumed his son John S. Gordon in 1898, under the still current firm name of “W. & J.S. Gordon”. On his death in 1914 Mr. John S. Gordon assumed Mr. David S. Whitson as a partner, who died in 1931.

1932– John D. Hardie became Assistant in 1932 and later a partner. He served with Military Intelligence during WW2, then when John S. Gordon died in 1944 John D. Hardie carried on the firm with various assistants and partners.

1971– His son William J.A. Hardie joined the firm as an apprentice in 1971, becoming a partner in 1974. John D. Hardie retired as a Consultant in 1993. William is a member of the Dean’s Council of the Society of Procurators and Solicitors of Angus.

Today– Within W & J.S Gordon, Paul L. Brown and John M. E. Hardie work with William, specialising in private client and dispute resolution respectively. Paul tutors in private client law at the University of Dundee as part of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice and is a former module organiser. He is a three-time finalist and also the 2023 winner of the Law Society of Scotland’s Innovation Cup competition. John is also a qualified Architect with a Masters in Planning. William is a committee member of the Society of Solicitors & Procurators in Angus.