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Proviso Lawyers
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Proviso Lawyers
Proviso Lawyers
Book a Consultation

Fine print first. Signature last.

Fine print first. Signature last.

Fine print first. Signature last.

Two lawyers opened Proviso on Harbour Lane in 2004. One rule came first: you hear every condition before you’re asked to sign. We still work in that order.

Our History
  • A narrow paved lane between old brick and white-painted buildings.
  • A man at a table reads through a letter, explaining it with his free hand.
  • Typed pages lying open on a wooden desk.
  • Two people work through a document together at a long table.
  • A woman in glasses smiles as she takes a phone call by a window.
  • A client talks through her matter across a table, a bicycle hanging on the wall behind her.
  • Two women shake hands across a desk in a bright office.
  • Hands rest on an old typed page beside a cup of coffee.
  • Shelves of labelled archive boxes.
  • A narrow paved lane between old brick and white-painted buildings.
  • A man at a table reads through a letter, explaining it with his free hand.
  • Typed pages lying open on a wooden desk.
  • Two people work through a document together at a long table.
  • A woman in glasses smiles as she takes a phone call by a window.
  • A client talks through her matter across a table, a bicycle hanging on the wall behind her.
  • Two women shake hands across a desk in a bright office.
  • Hands rest on an old typed page beside a cup of coffee.
  • Shelves of labelled archive boxes.
  • A narrow paved lane between old brick and white-painted buildings.
  • A man at a table reads through a letter, explaining it with his free hand.
  • Typed pages lying open on a wooden desk.
  • Two people work through a document together at a long table.
  • A woman in glasses smiles as she takes a phone call by a window.
  • A client talks through her matter across a table, a bicycle hanging on the wall behind her.
  • Two women shake hands across a desk in a bright office.
  • Hands rest on an old typed page beside a cup of coffee.
  • Shelves of labelled archive boxes.

Each of our terms has a date, and a reason.

None of our provisos was drafted in a meeting. Each one was added after a client showed us what was missing.

2004 · Plain words

Two lawyers, one room, plain words.

We opened above a bakery on Harbour Lane. The first rule was that every letter had to make sense to the person paying for it.

2004 · Plain words

Two lawyers, one room, plain words.

We opened above a bakery on Harbour Lane. The first rule was that every letter had to make sense to the person paying for it.

2009 · A fixed quote

We stopped estimating.

An estate bill came in at twice our estimate. We refunded the difference, and since then every stage is quoted in writing before it starts.

2009 · A fixed quote

We stopped estimating.

An estate bill came in at twice our estimate. We refunded the difference, and since then every stage is quoted in writing before it starts.

2013 · One lawyer

One name on every file.

A client told us she had explained her separation to four different people. Now one lawyer runs your matter from the first call to the final letter.

2013 · One lawyer

One name on every file.

A client told us she had explained her separation to four different people. Now one lawyer runs your matter from the first call to the final letter.

2018 · Replies within a day

An answer by the next business day.

Clients said waiting was worse than bad news. So we reply within one business day, even when the honest answer is “not yet”.

2018 · Replies within a day

An answer by the next business day.

Clients said waiting was worse than bad news. So we reply within one business day, even when the honest answer is “not yet”.

2026 · Today

Fourteen lawyers, still one office.

We’ve grown, but not apart. Every lawyer still works from Harbour Lane, and every proviso above still applies to every matter.

2026 · Today

Fourteen lawyers, still one office.

We’ve grown, but not apart. Every lawyer still works from Harbour Lane, and every proviso above still applies to every matter.

Five colleagues stand around a glass table covered in plans, seen from above.

Independent, and staying that way.

Independent, and staying that way.

Independent, and staying that way.

Proviso is owned by the lawyers who work here. No outside investors set our targets, so nobody is paid to keep your matter open.

14

lawyers, each running their own matters

14

lawyers, each running their own matters

1

office, Level 4, 18 Harbour Lane

1

office, Level 4, 18 Harbour Lane

2,400+

2

matters closed since 2004

2,400+

2

matters closed since 2004

6%

3

of our hours go to people who can’t pay

6%

3

of our hours go to people who can’t pay

2

Counted from our file register, not estimated.

3

Pro bono hours are recorded like any other matter and published each July.

Meet the people who sign your letters.

Meet the people who sign your letters.

Meet the people who sign your letters.

Meet the people who sign your letters.

Every matter has one named lawyer. Read about each of them, and the team who support them.

Our People

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