Steele Raymond LLP’s landmark anniversary and sponsorship announcement
Steele Raymond LLP Solicitors celebrated 30 years of trading with a Champagnedrinks reception and the announcement of its corporate sponsorship of the first-ever solo exhibition of the renowned furniture maker, John Makepeace at The Italian Villa, which is set within the beautiful Grade-II listed gardens of Compton Acres, on the 20th May 2010. More than 200 guests which included clients, past and present employees as well as friends descended upon the Italian Villa’s Medici Suite based on the ground floor, which has direct access to the Italian garden, enjoying drinks and canapés created by distinguished in-house caterers, Beales Gourmet, to celebrate the firm’s anniversary and to view a collection of John Makepeace’s furniture before he embarks on a nationwide exhibition tour for ‘John Makepeace – Enriching the Language of Furniture’ in September.The touring exhibition brings together 25 pieces from public and private collections in the UK and abroad, some not previously seen by the public.The collection on display at the event included the famous ‘Vault’ table, designed for a Greek client who owns one of the largest collections of Makepeace furniture, the ‘Serendipity’ chair made from 5,000 year old bog oak, aluminium and leather and the ‘Phoenix’ a chair in holly, elm and oak designed for a holiday home in Nantucket, USA.
Peter Rolph, chairman of the management committee at Steele Raymond LLP, said: “Anniversaries present both an opportunity to celebrate the past, and also a time to reflect on the values that we are committed to and have pursued during the last 30 years and which will drive our success for the next 30. As a firm innovation and creativity in the way we work has been our goal and our sponsorship of John Makepeace’s first-ever solo exhibition is a fitting way to demonstrate this philosophy."
Laura Hart, Italian Villa Manager, added: “To have been the venue of choice for an event for one of the south coast’s leading law firms is fantastic.We were pleased to advise on selecting the ideal room within the Villa, the canapés menu and entertainment, and to be used as venue to preview a collection of John Makepeace’s furniture before it is exhibited in September is a very noteworthy achievement.”
