Paris Steele has been proud to serve the people of East Lothian for 100 years – and we’re looking forward to the next century. As we look ahead, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on our history.

A Scottish heritage

Our founder, John Paris Steele, was born in 1876 in Grangemouth, Scotland, the son of James Steele and Jane Paris. In his early years, he made the decision to pursue law and went on to study at Edinburgh University, where he graduated in 1903 with distinction in Scots Law. During the First World War, John was enlisted in the army, first serving in a Volunteer Battalion before later taking on the role of Company Quartermaster Sergeant.

After the War, John returned to civilian life and demonstrated his commitment to the community of North Berwick by serving as burgh prosecutor.

A part of the community

In 1924, at the age of 48, John married Margaret Tweedale in North Berwick. Two years later, in 1926, the couple welcomed their only child, Mary - the same year in which J. Paris Steele WS was founded.  We believe the practice initially operated from an apartment on North Berwick High Street, perhaps even the family home but, by 1929, it had moved to its first formal office on Beach Road.

The Steele family made their home in North Berwick, where they remained for the rest of John’s life. He passed away in 1949 and was laid to rest in the local churchyard, where his gravestone still stands.

In 1976, the firm relocated once more to its current premises at 35 Westgate and, nearly fifty years later in the autumn of 2024, it expanded further with the opening of a bespoke Property Shop at number 37 Westgate, directly next door.

Across the county

The firm’s influence has steadily grown beyond North Berwick.

In 2011, Paris Steele entered into a mutual association with Brooke and Brown of Dunbar, uniting two firms with deep-rooted histories in East Lothian. This collaboration allowed the unified firm to deliver a broader range of legal and estate agency services to the surrounding communities.

Paris Steele also maintained an office in Haddington between 2014 and 2021.

A new century

As we head into our second century, we are honoured to continue to serve the people of East Lothian in the name of (John) Paris Steele.

With three fully qualified solicitors, two trainee solicitors, a team of paralegals, property experts and support staff across two sites, the firm is committed to serving the people of East Lothian for their legal and estate agency needs.

Find out more about our people here: Our Team - Paris Steele

At Paris Steele we remain committed to investing in the future. By training the next generation of solicitors and investing in the latest technology we can ensure we deliver the very best service to our clients. It’s this enduring dedication that means you can trust Paris Steele for all your legal and property needs.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.