Chartered lawyer adds ‘another layer of confusion and complexity’ – Law Society hit back
The Law Society of England and Wales has hit back at the introduction of a ‘CILEX Chartered Paralegal’ as part of amendments to CILEX’s Royal Charter which provides formal recognition for CILEX paralegals. The Law Society has described the change as adding ‘another layer of confusion and complexity for consumers’ and fundamentally disagrees with the […]
Gold Investors in People accreditation for Sort Group
Sort Group, the national company that provides tech solutions for conveyancers, has been awarded the Gold Investors in People accreditation. The accreditation is an internationally recognised standard that reflects dedication to continuous improvement, employee engagement and developing a positive, high-performing workplace. The accolade places Sort Group, which includes Sort Legal and Sort Refer, in the […]
Formal recognition for paralegals under Royal Charter amendment
Paralegals will receive formal recognition under amendments to CILEX’s Royal Charter which bestows the title of CILEX Chartered Paralegal to professionals who can demonstrate they have worked in a legal role for over five years and show extensive legal knowledge and competence across key duties and behaviours. It provides career paralegals with a formal status […]
Strategic reshaping of senior team positions LawNet for future growth
National SME law firm networkLawNet has appointed Lee Woodger to the newly created role of head of community and communications, as part of a strategic realignment of senior roles. LawNet says Woodger’s appointment forms a key part of the network’s leadership transition, which will see current chief executive Chris Marston hand over to member engagement […]
National Property Transaction Network pilot reduced completion time by 35%
A pilot scheme for the National Property Transaction Network (NPTN), an open and secure digital platform developed by legal tech company LMS, achieved a 35% reduction in completion times and a 43% drop in cancellations. The network connects conveyancers, suppliers, agents and lenders throughout the property transaction process. The pilot tested how cross-industry collaboration and […]
Knights surpasses £200m revenue and strengthens South East presence with Birkett Long acquisition
Knights has announced the acquisition of Essex-based law firm Birkett Long, for an initial £10 million. The deal will bring around 90 lawyers and 10 financial advisers to Knights, who will join an existing team of 1,250 in 28 locations. The acquisition, which the firm says will increase revenues to more than £200 million, comes […]
Build strong communities to enhance wellbeing in legal practice
The legal sector is being encouraged to focus on mental health and wellbeing this month, with this week marking Wellbeing Week in Law, and Mental Health Awareness Week beginning on the 12th May. Awareness weeks offer a prompt to pause and reflect on the issue at hand, and when it comes to our health there’s […]
Geovation announces 20th cohort for its property tech accelerator programme
The Ordnance Survey and HM Land Registry backed startup initiative Geovation has announced the 20th cohort for its accelerator programme, which is designed to support entrepreneurs bringing property technology solutions to market. Since it was established 15 years ago, Geovation has supported over 150 startups with a collective value of £300 million, 75% of which […]
New chair for collaboration group Women in Residential Property
Property industry collaboration group Women in Residential Property (WiRP) has announced the appointment of a new chair for the next term, following in the footsteps of Nicola Broomham who steps down after two years. Partner and Head of Conveyancing Services at national law firm Foot Anstey, Rebecca Kibby takes up the role and will work […]
LMS Strengthens Commercial Team with Three New Appointments
LMS, which launched National Property Transaction Network (NPTN) in 2024, is proud to announce new appointments within the commercial team to focus on fostering key relationships and driving the company’s continued growth. The recent restructure includes the promotion of Richard Norman to Head of Partnerships and Emily Haskey to Head of Customer Success, whilst Mat […]
Reminder: Purpose codes mandated from 1st May 2025
Conveyancer are reminded the inclusion of ‘purpose codes’ for property transactions, as mandated by Bank of England (BoE), will come into effect this week. The introduction of the new requirement, part of a move to a new global standard in payment messaging, had originally been set for introduction in November 2024, but was delayed to […]
OPDA launches accreditation programme in drive for data consistency
The Open Property Data Association (OPDA) has launched an accreditation programme for members, in what it calls ‘a key milestone’ in its drive to achieve greater data transparency, consistency and accessibility across the UK’s property industry. Accreditation will demonstrate OPDA members’ commitment to improving how property data is shared and used, the independent trade body […]
Costly penalties await failure to apply correct rates of SDLT – Warning
Following the end of March many conveyancers would be forgiven for being happy to never hear or talk about SDLT again. But, says one firm, SDLT is something which should always be given due consideration. The warning comes from Relatus, a specialist in SDLT who say incorrectly calculating SDLT can result in costly penalties and […]
Private equity investment in ‘digital-first’ surveying portal
Surveying portal HouzeCheck has received significant investment from London-based private equity funders Beach Equity Investments LLP, to further develop its digital-first offering. Launched in 2018, Houzecheck’s platform uses cloud, digital, and AI technologies to provide RICS Level 2 Homebuyer Surveys, RICS Level 3 Building Surveys, and property valuations through a network of c.150 fully accredited […]
PEPA invites conveyancers to online conference
The Property Energy Professionals Association (PEPA), whose members are the Government-appointed Accreditation Schemes for Energy Assessors, is inviting conveyancing lawyers to its annual online conference on 1st May. The conference will have a strong focus on Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform, as well as the changing landscape in respect of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) […]
The Evolving Landscape of Legal Recruitment and Employment
The legal sector, traditionally known for its steadfastness, is undergoing a profound transformation. As a recruitment agency specialising in this dynamic field, we’ve witnessed firsthand the seismic shifts reshaping how firms attract, retain, and engage talent. Three months into our journey, we’re sharing our insights on the evolving landscape. One of the most polarising debates […]
DPMSG to publish second version of digital conveyancing roadmap
Progress on plans to digitise the property property market has been shared by the Digital Property Market Steering Group (DPMSG) ahead of an anticipated second version of their Roadmap which is expected to be published in the coming weeks. DPMSG is a collaboration of government, regulators, membership bodies and pressure groups who all have a […]
Latest private equity acquisition grows North West footprint
Private equity house Blixt has completed its latest acquisition to the Lawfront legal services group with North West firm Farleys’ acquisition of Wigan-based Alker Ball Healds Solicitors (ABH). Farleys was acquired by Blixt in 2022 for a sum in the region of £18m. In April 2023 the firm acquired serious injury and professional negligence claims […]
Rebranded Muve launches “Lightspeed” conveyancing
Like many conveyancers last month, Muve achieved its highest ever monthly completion numbers in the run up to the SDLT deadline. The Richmond-based conveyancing firm said it completed 1820 properties in March. It has followed up that success with the launch of a new brand, and two new services designed to bring down the time […]
Geodesys Secures Contract to Deliver CON29DW Searches for Southern Water
Geodesys, a specialist in conveyancing searches and home to the Anglian Water CON29DW, has been appointed as a trusted partner for the ordering and delivery of CON29DW searches in the Southern Water region. As part of this partnership, Geodesys will roll out a streamlined ordering process through its dynamic e-commerce platform and API solutions. This […]
