Our featured resident organisation this month is TV Edwards, a law firm dedicated to serving the community and providing excellent legal services to those who need it most.
TV Edwards, LLP was founded in 1929 by a man called Thomas Victor Edwards. Now run by his nephew, Anthony Edwards, TV Edwards has cultivated a national reputation for delivering first-class legal services, innovative IT development, and a strong dedication to the communities it serves. TV Edwards has recently moved offices to join us here at the Albany, hoping to expand and enhance the delivery of holistic community-based legal advice on the doorstep of Deptford.
We recently spoke with Senior Partner, Anthony Edwards, about TV Edwards’ work and his motivation to serve the community.
What inspired you to go into law?
My first encounter with TV Edwards was when I was 5 years old and came to the office on Saturdays mornings, then located at Aldgate. I used to stamp the forms and then go on to watch football with my father. I came regularly to the office and before I went to university I spent nine months carrying my uncle’s bag around the East End as he went to courts and to see clients. My father was also in the office and with him I got to know the dockers for whom he worked. I became very fond of the East End and its remarkable and changing community.
At university I had a head start over my classmates, even including the first year lecturers as I had experienced the law in reality. When I graduated my father asked if I realised that I did not have to come in to the family firm. I thought he was mad- what else could I possibly want to do? I loved the law and the community of the East End.
In the 70’s we began to talk in terms of objectives and identified that as a firm we were there to meet all the needs of the local community, we were not alone, all over London small firms like JB Wheatley in Deptford (which we later merged with) were doing very much the same.
What case or element of TV Edwards’ work has been most rewarding?
I am often asked about my most interesting case. I find it very difficult to respond. In truth I like acting in hundreds of what may seem like small cases but make all the difference to an individual’s life. Many of the results do, from time to time, reduce me to tears- the High Court judge returning to a mother her child that had been “bought” before birth by a rich lawyer or the defendant treated with great unfairness by the police.
How does TV Edwards work towards the goal of giving back/serving the community?
Although my passion lies within criminal law, we have brought in keen and able lawyers who can provide all the services and skills we needed to a high standard. The recent series of mergers (with other firms) has been in anticipation of changes in contractual arrangements with the government through the reduced Legal Aid schemes. We will continue to help families with difficulties and a range of social welfare issues and the mentally ill. In every case there is a team of specialist lawyers who lead in their field. We spend a lot of time training new generations of lawyers.
Megan Bommarito, Marketing Intern, The Albany
The Albany, Deptford 