SRA repeat advice to firms in difficulty
The SRA have repeated their advice urging firms facing financial difficulties to seek outside help and advice at the earliest opportunity. The call comes after the intervention by the SRA into eight firms so far this year. Based on trends from previous years, the SRA had estimated the total number of interventions for 2013 would […]
BCL Legal opens in London
This month has been an exciting time for all of us at BCL Legal as after 10 years of growing the business around the UK, we’ve now opened our first office in London. The new office is situated in the heart of the Square Mile and our initial focus is on interim/ locum and document […]
Hooper & Anor v Oates [2013] EWCA Civ 91 (20 February 2013)
We are pleased to welcome again Anis Waiz, solicitor at Ozon Solicitors Limited as he continues his critical review of current case law. In this post, Anis considers Hooper & Anor v Oates [2013] EWCA Civ 91 (20 February 2013). 1. Introduction This case raised an interesting point as to the assessment of damages for […]
Rob Hailstone of Bold Group calls for formal enquiry into Sep Rep
Last Friday, the Law Society of Scotland AGM voted in favour of introducing mandatory separate representation for borrower and lender. Here Rob Hailstone, founder of the Bold Group, gives us his views on the decision and what he thinks should happen next. “Is it any wonder that solicitors are trying to protect their interests when […]
PSG Secures FSA Approval and integrates ConveySure® from CLS
PSG Financial Services Limited (PSG), the insurance arm of conveyancing search giant PSG has gained approval from the FSA to provide Insurance services. This significant step in the development of PSG’s business has led to the announcement today that Title Insurance provider, Conveyancing Liability Solutions Limited (CLS), has integrated it’s market leading ConveySure£® range of […]
SearchFlow Launches ‘Your Area, Your Risk’ Seminar Programme
SearchFlow, the electronic conveyancing search provider, has announced the first ten dates of its 2013 programme of CPD seminars. Following a successful programme of events in 2012, SearchFlow has now expanded its series for this year, aiming to cover up to 80 local seminars throughout the remainder of this year offering professional training and development […]
Legal Eye launches new app to assist law firms with their compliance requirements
Legal Eye has launched today an exciting new innovation for legal practitioners — a smart phone and tablet application that delivers the latest guidance on client care, compliance, risk management and training. It offers free and regularly updated tips on maintaining client care standards, ensuring compliance and transparency to engagement letters and terms of business […]
Paul Bassett on the campaign for Sep Rep
Paul Bassett has launched a campaign for mandatory separate representation for buyer/borrowers and lenders. The campaign is called ‘Big Banks Bad for Local Business’ You can follow the campaign on twitter and banksbad4biz.wordpress.com. He set up the campaign as he felt that lenders were not acting in the interest of the consumer, the High Street […]
Lawyer Checker allows Stephensons to save clients funds
Stephensons Solicitors have prevented a fraudster posing as a legitimately regulated conveyancer from conducting reserved conveyancing services. Acting in what appeared to be a normal transaction the Stephensons fee earner ordered a Lawyer Checker search. Lawyer Checker confirmed there was no track record of the sort code and account number that the fraudster provided having […]
Last chance to enter LFS Conveyancing Awards
There is just one week left to enter this year’s LFS Conveyancing Awards. Entries will close on 31st March. Firms can enter up to two categories from a list including; – Best Regional Conveyancing Firm – Best Direct Conveyancing Firm – Best Young Conveyancer (under 30) – Best use of Social Media – Best Website […]
SLC announces 2013 programme
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has announced its 2013 programme of events. This includes its annual conference, along with a number of regional road shows, which will run throughout the year offering access to topical presentations and CPD points. The annual conference will take place on 20th November in Derby, further details will be […]
Independent estate agents outperforming corporate counterparts
In the last six months of 2012 independent estate agents in the Move with Us Partner Network held on average of 11.8% market share locally compared to the 8.8% market share held by corporate agents. According to the data from www.Home.co.uk the Move with Us Partner Network also sold properties on average of four days […]
Scottish Sep Rep decision: what will it mean?
Kyle Peddie of Your Conveyancer one of the largest conveyancers in Scotland explains the sep rep vote last week. On Friday, the Law Society of Scotland AGM voted in favour of introducing mandatory separate representation for borrower and lender. Kyle Peddie, chief executive of Your Conveyancer explains what the decision is likely to mean for […]
SLC announces programme of events for 2013
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has announced its programme of events for 2013, to include its popular annual conference, along with a suite of regional road shows, which will run across the year and will offer access to topical presentations and valuable CPD points. As part of a member survey, which looked for feedback […]
Industry response to 2013 budget
Yesterday’s budget contained plenty of potential good news for conveyancers. But what has the industry made of the measures? Help to Buy Scheme Chairman of The Conveyancing Association (CA), Eddie Goldsmith was largely positive about the announcements saying: “We welcome the Chancellor’s efforts to help reinvigorate the stagnant housing market through these measures. “So far, […]
Countrywide confirms £750 million float
We announced earlier in the year the intention of one of the UK’s largest estate agents and property services groups to float on the stock exchange, on Tuesday they announced the successful pricing of their initial public offering. Countrywide, one of the largest conveyancers in the UK, has set the price at 350 pence per […]
SRA issue alert warning of a bogus website
In their seventh alert issued during March the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have warned the public to “be wary if they are contacted by anyone looking at a website claiming to belong to Terry Taylor and Shaw Solicitors”. The SRA say they have received information relating to a website http://www.ttshawssolicitors.net/ which relates to a firm […]
SRA issue alert warning of a bogus firm
In their eighth alert issued during March the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have warned the public to “be wary if they are contacted by anyone anyone claiming to be from Alan Ashley & Co Advocate & Solicitors.” The SRA say they have “received information that individuals are being sent letters purportedly from Barrister Alan Ashley […]
ETSOS Announces New Anti-Money Laundering Verification Service
ETSOS the leading provider of searches to the Legal and Conveyancing sector has announced that it has agreed to supply the SmartSearch Electronic Anti-Money Laundering Verification services via the ETSOS platform. ETSOS users will now be able to gain immediate PASS/REFER results for clients without the need for traditional documents such as Passports and Driving […]
Budget analysis 2013: what does it mean for conveyancing?
In today’s budget the Chancellor made an early nod to the regeneration of Battersea Power Station, a project that will bring a huge number of new homes to the UK market. This was a sentiment he expanded on later as he detailed the two main aspects of the government’s “help to buy” plan. Help with […]