In and Out of Court: The reminiscences of a retired solicitor and employment judge by STUART DUNCAN

Author:STUART DUNCAN [DUNCAN, STUART]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-05-22T04:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

South America

Stoneham & Sons had many contacts in South America, but by 1980 there was nobody left in Stoneham Langton & Passmore who had met any of them personally. It was therefore decided that one of the partners should go around the major countries of South America, visit existing contacts, make new ones and report back. Another partner was scheduled to go, but for reasons I cannot understand he was a little reluctant and I eagerly stepped into the breach. I had always wanted to visit South America and here was my chance. It was a long trip and became the only time in my career that I was away from my office desk for as long as a whole month.

The first thing I did by way of preparation was to decide which countries I should travel to. Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina were certainties because, apart from anything else, we already had good contacts in each of these countries. The west coast countries were more of a problem, but in the end I came to a decision as to which to visit. I also decided to go to Mexico which is of course part of Latin America rather than South America.

The next thing I did was to list all the law firms I already knew of that I wished to call on. I then looked these firms up in Martindale-Hubbell. This gave me the names of the partners, addresses, telephone numbers and other useful information. I then checked the same directory for all the countries I was visiting and chose a number of law firms that appeared potentially suitable to pass clients to or act as our agents. This included firms in cities where we already had established contacts. That gave me a working list. I then checked with our bankers to see who they would instruct in the various countries and I also found out which firms the local consulates would recommend. I then compiled my final list of law firms to which I added consulates and banks. My intention was to visit three or so law firms in each city and with banks and consulates to see as well I gave myself a pretty heavy itinerary. I also built in to the programme some places that I wanted to see simply as a tourist. After all I was going to be away for a whole month!

I left Heathrow at about 8.30 p.m. on Friday 29 February 1980 and arrived back in Heathrow at about the same time on Sunday 30 March 1980. If I went into the office the next day, and I cannot now remember if I did or not, I must have been quite exhausted.

My first destination was Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. I arrived there at about 7 a.m. on Saturday 1 March 1980. On the flight I had chatted to a director of a large pharmaceutical company and as he had a driver meeting him at the airport he offered me a lift into town.

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