Terms & Conditions

1. Definitions

Throughout these Terms and Conditions, the following terms carry the meanings set out below:

• "thornwickess", "we", "us", "our" — refers to thornwickess, operating from 138 Market Street, #28-03, Singapore 048946.
• "Client", "you", "your" — refers to the individual or organisation engaging our services or using this website.
• "Services" — refers to all legal advisory, consultation, documentation, and representation services offered by thornwickess.
• "Agreement" — means the engagement letter, service agreement, or written correspondence that documents the scope of services between thornwickess and a client.
• "Content" — refers to all written materials, documents, reports, and assessments produced by thornwickess in the course of an engagement.
• "Website" — refers to the thornwickess website accessible at thornwickess.live.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing our website or engaging our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, we ask that you refrain from using our services or website until you have had the opportunity to seek clarification.

• You must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into a binding agreement under Singapore law.
• Organisations engaging thornwickess confirm that the representative has authority to bind the organisation to these terms.
• For services involving vulnerable individuals or minors, additional conditions may apply as communicated separately.

3. Service Description

thornwickess provides legal advisory and representation services in Singapore, with a focus on strata property matters, criminal defence consultation, and adoption proceedings support. A summary of current service offerings can be found on our Solutions page.

Service Availability

Services are available to individuals, families, and organisations in Singapore. Availability of specific services may be subject to practitioner schedules and caseload capacity. We aim to respond to all enquiries within two business days.

Geographic Scope

Our services are primarily directed at matters arising under Singapore law and within Singapore jurisdiction. Cross-border matters may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

4. Client Responsibilities

To enable thornwickess to serve you well, we ask that you:

• Provide accurate, truthful, and complete information relevant to your matter at the outset and throughout the engagement.
• Disclose any developments that may affect your case or the advice being provided, promptly and without delay.
• Attend scheduled consultations and respond to correspondence within agreed timeframes.
• Refrain from withholding material facts that may affect the legal advice or strategy recommended.
• Use the materials, advice, and documents provided by thornwickess solely for the lawful purposes set out in your engagement.

Prohibited Conduct

• Using thornwickess's website to transmit harmful, misleading, or unlawful content.
• Attempting to circumvent any security or access controls on the website.
• Misrepresenting your identity or the nature of your legal matter when seeking advice.

5. Intellectual Property

All materials produced by thornwickess — including written reports, legal assessments, procedural guidelines, and advisory documents — remain the intellectual property of thornwickess unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Client Licence

Upon full payment of agreed fees, thornwickess grants you a limited, non-exclusive licence to use the materials produced specifically for your matter, for the purposes for which they were commissioned.

Restrictions

• Materials must not be reproduced, distributed, or published without prior written consent from thornwickess.
• Legal advice documents are prepared for the specific factual circumstances of your matter and must not be relied upon in different contexts.

6. Fees and Payment

Fees for each service are communicated at the start of engagement and set out in your engagement letter. The following terms apply:

• All fees are quoted in Singapore Dollars (SGD) and are inclusive of applicable taxes unless stated otherwise.
• Payment methods accepted include bank transfer, PAYNOW, and cheque payable to thornwickess.
• A deposit may be required before commencement of certain services, as specified in your engagement letter.
• Invoices are due within 14 calendar days of issue unless otherwise agreed.

Refund Policy

Refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis. Where work has commenced, fees reflecting the proportion of work completed are not refundable. If you wish to discuss an engagement before fees are incurred, please speak with us.

7. Service-Specific Terms

Strata Title & MCST Advisory

• The advisory report and by-law review are prepared based on documents provided by the client.
• Advice pertains to matters under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act and does not constitute representation in litigation unless separately agreed.
• Engagements typically span three to eight weeks, subject to document availability and meeting schedules.

Criminal Defence Consultation

• Initial consultations cover charge analysis and a preliminary assessment only and do not constitute full legal representation.
• Any further representation is subject to a separate engagement letter and fee agreement.
• Advice is provided in confidence and is subject to legal professional privilege.

Adoption Proceedings Support

• Timelines of three to nine months are indicative and depend on the specific circumstances and relevant authorities' schedules.
• All court filings are prepared on the basis of information and documentation provided by the client family.
• Our role is to assist and guide; approval of adoption applications rests solely with the courts and relevant statutory bodies.

8. Disclaimers

Legal advice provided by thornwickess is based on the facts presented and the law as it stands at the time of advice. We cannot account for subsequent changes in legislation, case law, or factual circumstances not disclosed to us.

• Advice does not constitute a prediction of any particular outcome in litigation or proceedings.
• Information published on the thornwickess website is for general awareness only and does not constitute legal advice specific to your situation.
• thornwickess does not warrant the completeness or currency of website information at all times.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted under Singapore law, thornwickess's liability to any client in respect of any matter shall not exceed the fees actually paid to thornwickess for that specific engagement.

• We are not liable for indirect, consequential, or incidental losses arising from reliance on legal advice, including loss of opportunity or commercial loss.
• Nothing in these terms limits liability for fraud, wilful misconduct, or professional negligence where such liability cannot lawfully be excluded.
• Force majeure events — including court closures, regulatory delays, or circumstances beyond thornwickess's reasonable control — do not constitute a breach of engagement obligations.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold thornwickess, its practitioners, and staff harmless from any claims, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal costs) arising from:

• Your breach of these Terms and Conditions;
• Inaccurate or incomplete information provided to us during the engagement;
• Your misuse of advice or documents provided by thornwickess beyond their intended purpose.

11. Termination

By the Client

You may withdraw from an engagement at any time by providing written notice. Fees for work completed to the date of termination remain payable.

By thornwickess

thornwickess may conclude an engagement in circumstances including non-payment, breach of these terms, a conflict of interest, or where continuing the engagement would place a practitioner in an ethically untenable position. Where possible, we will provide reasonable notice and assist with transition arrangements.

Survival

Sections relating to confidentiality, intellectual property, payment obligations, limitation of liability, and governing law survive termination of any engagement.

12. Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Singapore.

Jurisdiction

Any dispute arising from these terms or from a client engagement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Singapore.

Informal Resolution

We encourage clients to contact us directly should any concern arise. Most matters can be resolved through open dialogue. Please reach out to us at [email protected] in the first instance.

Mediation

Where an informal resolution cannot be reached, parties may agree to refer the matter to mediation at the Singapore Mediation Centre before commencing court proceedings.

13. General Provisions

• Entire Agreement: These terms, together with your engagement letter, constitute the full agreement between you and thornwickess in respect of the subject matter.
• Severability: If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
• Waiver: thornwickess's failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
• Assignment: You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these terms without thornwickess's prior written consent.
• Notices: Notices under these terms shall be in writing and delivered by email or post to the addresses set out in the engagement letter.
• Language: These terms are prepared in English. In the event of any translation, the English version shall prevail.

14. Changes to Terms

thornwickess may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or operational practices. When changes are made:

• The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will be revised accordingly.
• For active clients, material changes will be communicated directly by email.
• Continued use of our services after updated terms have been published constitutes acceptance of those terms.

We recommend reviewing these terms periodically.

15. Contact Information

For any questions relating to these Terms and Conditions, please contact: