If anyone knows how to succeed in business in Campbelltown and Macarthur it’s Jim Marsden.
And last night a lucky 120 or so local business people heard Mr Marsden explain how Marsdens Law Group, which started as a small firm in Campbelltown, was now one of the biggest law firms in Australia.
“Our head office is still right here in Campbelltown, and that tells you something about our priorities,’’ the firm’s senior partner told the Campbelltown chamber of commerce dinner meeting at Lakeside Golf Club Camden.
Mr Marsden revealed that a few years ago there was some discussion in the firm about moving the head office out of Campbelltown, but “it was never going to happen’’.
“Why would we move it to the city where we would be up against so many other large firms,’’ Mr Marsden said.
The firm was established by his late brother, John, in 1968, which means it will be marking its 50th year in 2018.
“There’s two things that we have embraced that I think have contributed to our success,’’ he said.
“One is that we built business relationships with many of our clients and stayed with them through thick and thin.
“For example, we have had the Perich family as clients for around 45 years.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“As most of you know when the magazine rich list comes out in a few weeks’ time the Perichs will be in there, worth something like $1.6 billion. But they still use Marsdens for their legal work because we stayed with them for all those years and so now it’s more than a business relationship.’’[/social_quote]
Mr Marsden said his parents drummed into them the importance of community, of being involved and of contributing to the life in Campbelltown.
He showed a very big list of local charities and other organisations Marsdens support across the Macarthur region.
Mr Marsden said the region now offered opportunities that were worth 10 times as much compared to when his law group was being established in the early days.
“We have an international airport coming and we’re all going to benefit from that, so we don’t need to worry about competing with Parramatta and Penrith and other regional areas,’’ he said.
“The south west region will do well.’’
Marsdens have been at the forefront of nearly every progressive movement in Campbelltown since I came to town in 1959. I have the pleasure and excitment of serving with John on the foundation Board of Wests Campbelltown Leagues and still proudly hold permant membership no 5.