Metamorph Group Limited Acquire Knight Polson
Metamorph Group Limited have acquired the Hampshire-based law firm Knight Polson as the group continue to strengthen their group office network and increase the number of offences in Hampshire to five. After the recent deal for Beaumont Legal (in April), this new acquisition takes Metamorph Group to nine firms across England. Knight Polson, previously part […]
Property Market Activity Starts To Cool
The latest data compiled by Yomdel, has revealed that the mini-boom in the property market has started to cool. New enquiries from home movers dipped in the past week as new enquiries to estate agents slowed to indicate a possible cooling of the hugely overheated residential property market, the Yomdel Property Sentiment Tracker (YPST) showed. But […]
7 Powerful Strategies To Increase Your Residential Conveyancing ‘Quotes Prices’ And Still Get ‘Yes’
by Ian Cooper, Britain’s most experienced law firm skills trainer, consultant and author of the new book ‘Lawyers: Win New Business Immediately, Without Any Marketing Costs’. What if there was a way to increase your ‘conveyancing quotes’ fees and still get potential clients to say yes? What if this was the case, even if you […]
National Paralegal Awards 2020 Ceremony Goes Virtual
The Professional Paralegal Register (PPR) is counting down to the National Paralegal Awards taking place on Friday 18 September. The PPR normally welcomes over 270 guests at a venue in central London in March for its annual ceremony but this year was forced to postpone it because of the coronavirus outbreak. A decision was taken […]
Solicitors’ Role Critical To Saving Clients Thousands On Stamp Duty Land Tax
Purchasers of residential and commercial property can be left out of pocket by as much as £80,000 if Stamp Duty Land Tax liability is miscalculated or wrongly classified, but property search specialist, Kate Bould, says residential and commercial property lawyers and conveyancing specialists can get it right if they use the right support and tools. […]
Mortgage Fraud Allowed To Prevail On Conveyancer’s Watch
Stephen Michael Oakley, was convicted of multiple money laundering offences in 2018, and hasn’t practised in the profession since 2011. He has now agreed that he should be struck off the solicitor roll after allowing mortgage fraud to take place on his watch. A client instructed Oakley to act as their conveyancer. It transpires that […]
X-Press Joins UK Finance Association
Leading property search provider, X-Press Legal Services has announced its membership of UK Finance, the collective voice for the banking and finance industry, as it extends its suite of digital innovation. UK Finance is the trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector representing around 300 firms in the UK providing credit, banking, […]
Taking Advantage Of Technology
Written by Carole Ankers, Chief Product and Technology Officer, poweredbypie Online sales have seen a huge rise since the Lockdown. The Office of National Statistics has recently reported that £3 in every £10 is now spent online. Fashion brands have adapted; one innovative retailer now enables customers to upload photos of themselves so they can […]
Conveyancers Are Line Of Defence Against Fraudsters
The coronavirus pandemic hasn’t hampered the work of criminals who have used the virus as an excuse to adapt their methods and step up their activity, as they attempt to defraud people out of their hard-earned cash. In these tough times of recession, and people experiencing financial worries and redundancy, they are seemingly easy prey […]
Details Emerge For Non-Resident Stamp Duty
Draft legislation has been published by the government outlining the details of the 2% stamp duty surcharge on residential property being bought by people who aren’t residents in the UK. From April 1 2021, the surcharge will apply to non-UK resident companies, trusts and individuals who haven’t been resident for 183 out of a continuous […]
Struggles In The Legal Sector: Attracting And Retaining Top Talent For Law Firms
Not inaccurately, the legal sector is often viewed as highly competitive and challenging, especially when it comes to the career structure associated with traditional law firms. But just because someone studies for a law degree doesn’t mean a career in law is what they’ll go for. Even junior associates can end up being drummed out […]
Land Registry Update Practice Guide 19
HM Land Registry (HMLR) have updated the Practice Guide 19, after amending section 3.1.5 – Notices, restrictions and protection of third party interests (PG19) clarifying the use of a ‘wet signature’. The update specifies that a ‘wet ink’ signature is always necessary for a certificate required for a Form LL restriction The previous version of […]
Time Is Running Out To Begin Property Transactions
The end of the stamp duty land tax (SDLT) holiday at the end of March 2021 seems such a long way away at the moment. Even with the mini housing boom that we’re experiencing at the moment, the time it takes to market a property and begin the conveyancing process is timely with many homeowners […]
Assured Digital Identity in the Home Buying & Selling Process
Today’s Conveyancer last week reported on government plans for an electronic verification system which would remove the need to provide original official documentation to prove identity. Responding to Digital Identity: Call for Evidence Response, Chair of the newly formed Digital Identity Group (DIG) working group at the Home Buying and Selling Group Stuart Young discusses […]
Furlough Fraud – What Firms Need To Know
Written by Amy Bell, Director at Teal Compliance Limited The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), more commonly known as the furlough scheme, was introduced by the government as a means of helping both businesses and employees to survive lockdown. Essentially it allows employers to keep employees on the payroll but to place them on leave, […]
Ordering Title Insurance Online Just Got Easier
As part of its commitment to provide solutions to help property lawyers and their clients overcome the many hurdles faced when buying property, Stewart Title has launched a number of improvements to its already successful online ordering platform, Stewart Online Solution. “The pressure is always on lawyers to find ways to resolve the problems faced […]
SearchFlow responds to the Halifax House Price Index, September 2020
In response to the latest Halifax House Price Index, which has shown prices reach a record high after the largest monthly increase since 2016, Dr Tom Quirke, managing director of SearchFlow – the UK’s largest provider of legal due diligence for commercial and residential property transactions – provides his view on what this means to […]
The CMA Calls For Evidence As It Begins To Revisit Review
In 2016, the Competition Market Authority (CMA) carried out a review on the supply of legal services in England and Wales. After the review, the CMA outlined some recommendations and now it is taking some time to see if any progress has been made in the sector. Back in 2016, the came to the conclusion […]
Law Society Excellence Awards Shortlist Announced
The Law Society Excellence Awards shortlist has now been announced with the event being held virtually next month. The Law Society’s website states: “The Excellence Awards entries we have received in what has been a very challenging year for solicitors are a testament to the outstanding work accomplished across the legal profession. Congratulations to tall […]
Feel Good Friday: Sort Legal, Mitchell Roberton, Smartsearch & Equity Release Council
There have been lots of positive things happening across the sector this week, so we wanted to share these good vibes with you as part of our ‘Feel Good Friday’ news items. Here is a little snap shot of what’s been going on. Sort Legal welcome new HOLP Laura Burkinshaw and celebrate opening of a […]
