In the novel Nemesis, Mr James “J.R.” Broadribb is a solicitor and the senior partner at the London firm Broadribb & Schuster, with offices in Bloomsbury. He is the older and senior of the two partners in the firm. This firm is the one engaged by Mr Rafiel to deal with his personal (rather than his business) legal affairs. Broadribb is the partner whom Rafiel dealt directly with.
Shortly before Mr Rafiel's death, he dictated to Broadribb a letter with instructions for Miss Marple. After Rafiel died, Broadribb wrote to Miss Marple requesting her to call on the firm to hear Mr Rafiel's instructions. Along with the letter to Miss Marple, Rafiel also left Broadribb a number of sealed orders to be opened at certain points in the course of Miss Marple's investigations.
Mr Broadribb has two sons, one in the civil service, another working in an oil firm.
Portrayals[]
In the BBC 1987 adaptation of the novel, Broadribb is portrayed by Roger Hammond.
In the 2009 ITV adaptation, Broadribb has a different firstname "Matthew" and is portrayed by Graeme Garden. Here he is still Mr Rafiel's solicitor (there is no mention of his partner, if any). He does not ask Miss Marple to call on him at his chambers. Instead he visits Miss Marple at St. Mary Mead. He plays a recording made by Mr Rafiel in which he asks Miss Marple to "once again" be "Nemesis" and also presents her with two tickets for the "Daffodil Motor Coach Tours".