Walk in with a problem, walk out with a solution

Walking into Thomas Dunton Solicitors, a thriving, dynamic legal practice on Orpington High Street, you would be hard pushed to imagine its roots.

Norman Thomas Dunton grew up on the wrong side of the tracks in Hackney, East London. He left school at 14 and worked in a solicitors firm as an office boy. After returning from service in World War II, he found work at a City law firm.

One day in 1962, at the age of 49, he decided to train as a Solicitor. With a wife and a young family to support, college was not an option, so he enrolled on a correspondence course and studied at home in the evenings, emerging as a fully qualified Solicitor six years later. Thomas Dunton Solicitors was officially born when Norman was 65. He practiced from home for several years and then, when his daughter Melanie joined the firm, he moved into a small office.

A man with a deeply felt social conscience, he once said that among his greatest pleasures in life was seeing someone walk in through the door, weighed down with a problem, and know that he was able to help them.

Forty years on, this ethos is still very much part of the firm, the question “How can we help you” being the cornerstone of the Thomas Dunton philosophy.

Thomas Dunton in front of the original premises

Thomas Dunton: the man who started it all.

A tradition of care

Carrying on the family tradition from her father, Melanie Dunton is now a Senior Partner at the firm.  Joining in 1986 and initially working in all areas of the law, as the firm expanded she headed our Family Department and specialised in finance, pensions and mediation. She now heads our Private Client Department assisting clients with the financial aspects of wills, trusts, taxation and probate.

The Partners

Melanie’s fellow Senior Partner, Vernon Hadida, joined in 1992.  With a Physics degree and having further qualified as a Chartered Physicist, after five years at sea as an engineer in oil exploration, Vernon re-trained as a solicitor.  As well as his experience working in industry outside the law, Vernon brought to the firm three years’ experience of working in a City of London law firm, where he trained and practised.  Now head of Dispute Resolution in the firm, he is a CEDR accredited mediator and also plays a large role in running and planning the affairs of the practice.

Tessa Bengo became a partner in the firm in 2002, bringing a wealth of Family Law experience.  Specialising in Children Law and financial issues arising on relationship breakdown, she now heads up the family department.

Subsequently, in 2022, both Catherine Crabtree and Maria James became partners in the firm. Catherine has been an integral part of the Thomas Dunton team, specialising in helping our clients plan appropriately for their future as the head of our private client department. Maria, our joint head of the family law department, has extensive expertise in all areas of family law, with a particular interest in international children cases and child abduction. Maria has been with the firm since 2016.

The partners are fortunate to have been joined by a team of highly experienced lawyers and committed support staff.  Having become a leading Kent-based firm of Solicitors, Thomas Dunton provides a wide range of services to both private individuals and businesses, and their reputation is founded on a tradition of care. Meet our team.

Quality is the key

Whatever the problems, the team will assess what each particular situation requires, whilst also considering the wider picture. Their aim is not just to resolve the immediate issue, but also to protect your future interests. See more on why we are different.

Quality is key to everything Thomas Dunton do.  Above all, the firm is judged on the quality of the advice it provides and the high level of personal service that clients have come to expect.  Clients have said of the service, “Professional, attentive and courteous.” See more on what others say about us.

We have attained Lexcel status, which is the Law Society’s quality mark for excellence in legal practice management and excellence in legal client care. Since it was introduced, little more than 16% of solicitors in the UK have achieved this distinction. In addition to Lexcel, we also have four Law Society accreditations.

In a changing world, one can never be sure what the future holds, but whatever your situation and the issues you face, Thomas Dunton will provide the expertise and personal attention you need.

Social Responsibility Policy

Our policy focuses on supporting the local community we serve. We are committed to supporting local organisations and the community in general and operating in the most environmentally-friendly way possible. See more on social responsibility and sustainability at Thomas Dunton Solicitors.

Helping in the community

Thomas Dunton also donates to various charities, local and national, and raises money for these at local community events.

Thomas Dunton belongs to the Federation of Small Businesses, which emphasises trading locally and also Orpington Ist, which is instrumental in pushing forward positive action to encourage the growth of the town.

The partners are responsible for any matters relating to the reputation of the firm, with Vernon Hadida being responsible for this policy.

Find out what services we can offer at Thomas Dunton Solicitors and why we are different.

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