With the growth and consolidation within legal technology it can be a minefield for firms to navigate how to choose the best technology for their business which both serves them now and supports with their future plans. 

Even experienced professionals can find the balance between investment, efficiency and compliance challenging. Its a topic on which Cathy Kirby and David Baskerville, legal technology consultants from Baskerville Drummond LLP are well placed to provide their expert insight as the latest Today's Conveyancer Podcast unpacks the complexities of legal tech, infrastructure, and strategic planning for law firms navigating digital transformation.

The discussion explores how law firms often underutilise their existing technology, likening it to using only 5% of Microsoft Word’s capabilities. Cathy and David stress the importance of understanding infrastructure readiness, data governance, and internal processes before adopting new tools or AI solutions.

They highlight the challenges of integrating systems across departments with differing workflows, and the resurgence of “best of breed” strategies as firms seek more specialised solutions. The conversation also covers the limitations of APIs, the risks of data leakage, and the importance of knowing where master records reside.

One topic they are both unequivocal on is cybersecurity, urging firms to prioritise due diligence, supplier audits, and accreditations like Cyber Essentials and ISO. They note increasing pressure from insurers and regulators, and the growing role of these standards in tenders and M&A activity.

The episode closes with a powerful reminder: law firms must invest in their IT teams. Cathy and David advocate for mentoring, training, and realistic expectations - emphasising that no single IT manager can be expert in everything from security to strategy.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

David Opie, host of the Today’s Conveyancer Podcast, welcomes back PEXA UK for a timely update. Since first joining the podcast nearly two years ago much has changed both for PEXA and in the property market. 

Joining him is Angela Hesketh, PEXA's Head of Market Development, who shares insights into PEXA’s journey since arriving on UK shores some five years ago. 

The conversation revisits PEXA’s Australian origins, where it handles 92% of property transactions. Angela clarifies that while the UK system shares similarities, PEXA UK has built its infrastructure from scratch to suit local needs.

A payments scheme operating from within the Bank of England, PEXA started out in remortgage, recently surpassing £200m in processed payments. 

With the property market undergoing significant digitisation PEXA anticipate its recently launched sale and purchase proposition will play it part in supporting the transformation of the sector. 

There are lots of questions to answer

• is this another example of a network needing all participants engaged to benefit?
• what happens to client account and interest?
• where does PEXA fit with other industry initiatives like the Property Data Trust Framework; the and technology solutions already launched from Zoopla and LMS?
• how much does the digitisation of HM Land Registry drive (or hold back) solutions like PEXA?

and much more. 

Angela highlights the importance of building the “plumbing” first which for PEXA includes FCA approval for its third party managed accounts (TPMA) solution. PEXA Pay, a key innovation, enables direct movement of lender funds without routing through client accounts. Angela explains how this reduces risk and improves transparency, especially as the UK explores alternatives to traditional client account models.

The discussion covers innovation, digitisation, technology and the future of conveyancing as Angela shares her experience both in her role at PEXA and as a former conveyancer herself.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In the regular quarterly update looking at the latest statistics from Landmark, Today's Conveyancer Podcast host David Opie is joined by Ben Robinson and Rob Gurney of Landmark to pore over the latest Property Trends report covering the second quarter of 2025. 

This is the first opportunity to review the impact of the stamp duty deadline on 31st March 2025, with a 79% year-on-year surge in completions compared to March 2024. There was an expected dip in April, down a third year on year and the interesting inference from the stats in the quarter's report is the subdued recovery, which is ongoing now in July, says Gurney.

In the first half of the year the market is 8% up, driven by the SDLT deadline and with listing volumes up 5% on 2024 there is a desire to move; but with so many properties on the market, it's a buyer's paradise and there is much less urgency says Robinson, resulting in a realignment of asking price and reduced transaction speed. 

Summary of Q2 year-on-year activity for England and Wales:

• In England and Wales listings volumes were up 5% in Q2 ‘25 compared to Q2 ‘24.
• In England and Wales SSTC volumes in Q2 ‘25 were down 7% in Q2 ‘25 compared to Q2 ‘24.
• Completion volumes, in England and Wales, were down 20% in Q2 ‘25 compared to Q2 ’24.

Listen in to this shorter podcast for the latest insight and opinion. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

The latest Today’s Conveyancer podcast welcomes industry expert Kate Faulkner OBE to deliver her verdict on the current state of the property market, the ills of the home moving process, ROPA, Up front information and the work being done by the Home Buying and Selling Group to improve the experience for all.

Since starting her career in food Kate has since become a respected commentator and consumer champion in the property industry. She has launched a property portal, worked in relocation, part exchange and new build and now runs a communications agency, helping consumers with their property projects. 

Kate delivers a typically honest appraisal of the current state of the market ("the truth is, we don't know"), regulation of estate agency ("I am shouting from the rooftops we have to regulate estate agents. Everybody around the agents is regulated in some form or another, so we need to tick that box) and progress on some of the initiatives launched by the Home Buying and Selling Group ("we need mandation to make further progress")

But she is buoyant about the progress to date and fervently believes that change is coming. Discussing the work done previously she says she doesn't believe in missed opportunities, rather that the timing wasn't right. 

"We’re in the right time (now), we’ve got the right people, we are making changes to the home buying a selling process that we couldn’t do before. You learn why it didn’t happen and you put it right."

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast host David Opie is joined by Richard Hinton. Known to many for his years in marketing and business development in the legal services sector, both in house and as a supplier, Richard discusses the “vacuum of market intelligence” that conveyancers face when it comes to using data to drive their businesses forward.

Despite a blip during Covid where the number of firms increased to cope with demands, the home moving industry continues to see a contraction in the number of practices undertaking conveyancing work. The larger firms are getting larger as smaller ones exit no doubt because of the increasing risk and PI premiums.

"It's ironic," says Richard, "lawyers train to eradicate risk and rely on certainty, and yet as leaders of conveyancing businesses, we're making decisions on conjecture and gut feel. "

Conveyancers need to be able to use data to drill into their relative position in their geographic. They need to be able to understand what their opportunities are. If they are thinking about a new marketing campaign or a new office what is the competition and what is the strength of the referral market, particularly estate agents as an example. 

Data is also a powerful sales tool; enabling firms to demonstrate their expertise in a particular type of property, tenure, or location; and highlighting transaction speeds and turnarounds. 

Powered by TwentyCi who have extensive experience in the estate agency market, TwentyConvey has been launched to provide more quantitative and qualitative insight into the property market. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast host David Opie is joined by Martin MacDuff, founder of Redbrick Solutions, to discuss case management systems, practice management systems and technology.

Are conveyancers more reliant on case management workflows than ever before? With experienced conveyancers leaving the industry, how much do we have a "computer says no" culture and how much does case management facilitate that? 

Or does case management help by segmenting conveyancing work efficiently so that each stage is completed by subject specialists?

Alongside this, and the consolidation of the market over the past couple of years, Martin discusses his thoughts on cloud vs on premise solutions and which works best for firms depending on their own infrastructure and requirements. 

Questioned on the level of investment firms should be thinking about when it comes to technology, Martin suggests that between 3-5% of turnover is best practice across their technology requirements. 

Despite the proliferation of technology, transactions continue to take longer. Martin acknowledges that case management has done much to improve the process internally for firms, but there is work to be done to provide a truly "digital conveyancing " process. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In the first epsiode of the second series of the Today's Conveyancer Podcast host David Opie is joined by Muve CEO David Jabbari.

David was part of one of the first Alternative Business Structures (ABS) to be launched following the Legal Services Act, dubbed "Tesco Law." At the time it was feared the Act would precipitate the death of the high street lawyer as it lowered the barrier to entry for established consumer brands to enter the law and set up firms to cater for their customers.

The reality was it didn't happen, and in this podcast we explore some of the reasons why as David discusses his own experience at Parabis, who were one of the first law firms to secure private equity funding and were closely associated with Saga at the time.

David also discusses technology, innovation and unbundling; the process by which conveyancing is increasingly seen as a standalone, commoditised service. 

He also share his thoughts on the current state of the conveyancing market and offers up some predictions for what might happen in 2023 and beyond.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

Following the publication of two previous "state of the nation" reports, CEO of tmgroup Joe Pepper joins Host David Opie to provide an exclusive preview of the initial results of their latest survey. 

David and Joe are joined by Founder of Aconveyancing  Natalie Moore for this special edition of the Today's Conveyancer podcast.

With over 800 responses, 3/4 of which are drawn from the conveyancing industry, the survey provides a finger on the pulse of the latest market sentiment, and follows 2 previous reports; "Thriving in a Pandemic" and "The New Normal."

The full report will be out in January 2023 and in this podcast Joe Pepper provides a first look at the results, with some of the standout statistics including:

• 63% of respondents said that remuneration is a big issue
• 33% of respondents said they are actively looking to leave the conveyancing  industry
• Less than 20% of firms have increased their focus on succession planning

Alongside discussing some of the initial results, Joe and Natalie share their thoughts on what firms need to be thinking about heading into 2023; particularly given the market uncertainty caused by economic and social factors.

It's not all doom and gloom and as the saying goes, "every cloud has a silver lining." Listen in to hear what opportunities 2023 might present for conveyancers. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this Today's Conveyancer podcast host David Opie is joined by lawyer and technology entrepreneur Vanessa Challess. 

As owner of Tiger Bytez and Tiger Law, Vanessa brings a practical view of the current state of conveyancing with strong words for conveyancers over current service levels and technology adoption. She also warns firms that technology will become a recruiting tool and that the best conveyancers will move to technology-led firms as competition for talent stiffens. 

Listen in to hear some of Vanessa's top tips for conveyancing firms including;

1. Don't allow yourself to be chased. Proactivity will save 3-4 calls and emails.
2. Think about the roles in the team. Should we have roles in the team dedicated to communications and updates, not unlike the sales progressors in an estate agent's office.
3. Technology won't replace the human touch when it comes to holding home mover's hands. We can use technology to help with the admin, but we still need change our mindset when it comes to using technology to help us smooth the flow of the transaction. 

Vanessa's own market research suggests that there is a continued culture clash between clients, who want speed of service, and conveyancers who are under pressure to deliver faster transaction times.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

Having achieved seed investment in Move Genius, Founder Hannah Nicholson joins host David Opie to discuss the direction of travel of technology in the conveyancing space.

Creating a seamless journey for home movers, estate agents and conveyancers seems to be the holy grail, but with myriad technology solutions, how can we achieve a more joined up approach?

And are people ready to change? How are we going to move the industry forward over the next 2-5 years to really change the narrative around the relationships between home movers and estate agents, home movers and conveyancers, and estate agents and conveyancers.

For Hannah this requires "collaboration between tech solutions and a change in industry mindset."

Listen in to this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast to hear the thoughts of Hannah on the current challenges she sees in the home moving process, and what role blockchain has in creating the building block for collaboration.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In the latest Today's Conveyancer podcast David Opie is joined by Scott Reece. 
 
With a background in the installation of technology in medical practices, Scott (by his own admission) was somewhat of a novice when he  and his wife joined the X-Press Legal Services network in 2007 in a complete change of scenery. 
 
Their franchise survived the torrid 2008-2009 recession in tact and 15 years later now  wears two hats in the business. One is his franchisee hat where he covers the Cumbria region, the other is his role as IT Manager at X-Press Legal as a whole, supporting the franchisee network and building platforms and integrations for the benefit of clients. 

Scott’s share his own tales of the fun and games of being a search agent where digitisation is sorely needed in Local Land Charges departments; with one story where the council limits the number of search appointments to 4 a day because the Land Charges Officer has to traipse up and down 3 flights of stairs with Kalamazoo ledgers to provide the information to search agents.

Progress is being made here with 50 councils now moving over to a digitised Local Land Charges register at the time of publication. 

In his role as head of IT Scott is a proactive member of a community of compliance professionals. Digital ID checks and onboarding remain a key risk for conveyancing firms. He also discusses the role technology has to play in re-checking and refreshing data as transactions move along to ensure that material changes that could impact the transaction are reported.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this podcast,  Alttaf Hussain and Valentina Dotto of Yoti join host David Opie to discuss electronic and digital signatures.

At a time when the digitisation of legal services is under scrutiny, Alttaf and Valentina discuss the various types of electronic and digital signature available and walk us through the terminology.

They also provide some guidance and user cases around when it is most appropriate, and compliant, to use them.

With cyber crime and fraud on the rise, technology providers are also under pressure to stay a step ahead of criminal organisations who seek to take advantage of weaknesses in new developments.

Beyond the compliance and technology challenges, of digital and electronic signatures have the potential to smooth the conveyancing transaction and "remove friction," ultimately improving the client experience, according to Alttaf.

Listen in to hear more thoughts on the wider adoption of digital and electronic signatures.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

The intended centralisation of the Local Land Charges registers has been well documented; but it's not the only item on the agenda for Local Land Charge teams.

In this latest Today's Conveyancer Podcast host David Opie is joined by Land Data Chief Executive Fiona Barron, Pat Morgan, Chair of the Local Land Charges Institute, and Nick Dyoss, Director of NLIS.

The discussion centres on the work being done in Local Land Charges departments in response to greater digitisation and how councils are supporting efforts to centralise the registers. 

By their own admission, there is a way to go; Local Land Charges have operated independently with little standardisation for many years but times are very much changing. 

Like conveyancers, LLC departments have also grappled with the impact of the pandemic, the huge rise in demand, cyber attack and recruitment as many long standing public servants have retired, taking a vast amount of knowledge with them.  

Listen in to hear the thoughts on the direction of travel for Local Land Charge departments, and their top tips for conveyancers. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer Podcast, host David Opie is joined by Richard Flemmings, CEO and founder of Map Impact, and Oliver Baldock, Director at Ashfield Solutions. Together, they unpack the Wennington wildfire of July 2022—an event that triggered the London Fire Brigade’s busiest day since World War II—and explore its implications for the property sector.

Richard and Ollie bring specialist insight into climate risk and environmental consultancy, offering a detailed account of how the fire unfolded, why it caught experts off guard, and what it signals about the UK’s increasing exposure to climate-related hazards.

The discussion moves beyond the immediate damage to examine the long-term consequences—from land contamination and insurance gaps to the emotional toll on affected homeowners. The panel also considers the evolving role of conveyancers, the expectations set out in the Law Society’s climate guidance, and how lenders and insurers are responding to the challenge.

With climate events becoming more frequent and severe, this episode highlights the need for joined-up thinking across the property lifecycle. It’s a timely and thought-provoking conversation for professionals navigating the future of home ownership in a changing climate.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast David Opie is joined by Head of Property at Dutton Gregory Solicitors Paul Sams. 

Paul is better known to so many of us as "Lego Paul"... with his regular Friday musings on social media providing an entertaining and insightful end to the week.

Known for his use of alliterative and rhyming marketing initiatives, Paul discusses his latest “Can’t move as planned? Our fees will be canned!” slogan as well as discussing his thoughts on the various challenges of being a conveyancer in 2022. 

Are conveyancers over worked and underpaid? And how do we combat that? And what does the industry need to do to address the issues around fees, moving timescales, registration delays and customer satisfaction?

With extensive experience on the front line Paul shares his insight with the Today's Conveyancer podcast audience. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this special episode of the Today's Conveyancer Podcast host David Opie discusses the ins and outs of the announcement by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to cut Stamp Duty rates in the mini-budget on Friday 23rd September. 

David is joined by conveyancing industry veteran Lloyd Davies, Managing Director of Convey Law and Chairman of The Conveyancing Foundation. 

Lloyd lends his years of experience in the industry to the discussion, providing his thoughts on the rate cuts, alongside the overall package of tax cuts, as well as considering the current state of play with the continued war in Ukraine, interest rate rises, relaxation of mortgage rules, inflation, recession and supply and demand.

Are we heading for recession? Or will the SDLT cut “over-stimulate an already stimulated market” and create further capacity issues for the property market? And what does that mean for conveyancers up and down the country? 

Listen in to hear Lloyd's thoughts.  

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie is joined by Emma Green, Managing Partner at Cyber Data Law Solicitors. 

A regular commentator on national radio and television, Emma is an expert on cyber crime and alongside spending her time educating firms on the perils of cyber attack, has also spent time negotiating with criminal organisations on behalf of firms who have been attacked. 

Emma lends her experience and insight to the Today's Conveyancer podcast where she discusses why the cyber risk message simply isn't getting through; We have seen a number of large legal organisations affected in just the last couple of months. 

With experience dealing with insurance providers, Emma also discusses the merits of the various online security badges and marks avaiable (Cyber Essentials etc) and how they are viewed by insurers.

She also explains how a firm's greatest risk is its people and constant diligence is required to protect ourselves from the increasingly sophisticated efforts of cyber criminals. And alongside some top "prevention is better than cure" tips, Emma shares her thoughts on what firms need to do in the immediate aftermath of a cyber attack.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this latest episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie speaks with Sally Holdway. 

Having started out life as a high street conveyancer, Sally has moved through a series of roles leading innovation at large conveyancing firms and QualitySolicitors before setting up Teal Legal in 2018. 

Sally now devotes much of her time to exploring new technology opportunities for law firms with the aim of combining data and technology to improve the home-moving process. 

Research conducted by Teal Legal has revealed that upto 20% of a conveyancer's time is spent collating information to report on, whether it be back to the lender or the client. Far from doing the conveyancer's job, Sally firmly believes that technology offers the opportunity to reduce the time spent collecting and interpreting data, with instant access to information increasing efficiency and improving the transaction for all, not least the conveyancer who can actually be left to do the legal work. 

In this episode Sally discusses the current technologies which she would urge law firms to explore, which are most likely to impact efficiency and client experience, ranging from HM Land Registry’s Register Extract Service, to the multiple new opportunities coming down the line.  She also discusses what this might mean for how conveyancing is carried out over the coming months and years.

This episode was recorded before the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Any reference to "Queen" within the podcast is not an intentional reference to the events of Thursday 8th September, and there is no intention to offend. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

As one of the most divisive subjects of recent times climate change is a challenging topic for many of us.

When it comes to conveyancing there is a feeling of dread. Is this yet another issue conveyancers need to report on to clients?  How much is it going to cost in terms of expense and time when fees are already squeezed (and that's putting it mildly!).

And how much do clients really care? They've fallen in love with the property, is this another roadblock to securing their dream home?

Joining host David Opie to discuss this challenging topic is Groundsure Marketing Director David Kempster.

In an honest discussion David outlines the sense behind why the impact of climate change must be addressed when it comes to the UK's housing stock. How moves to improve energy efficiency will increase costs for landlords in the short term (retrofitting energy efficiency into properties built in the 20th century will prove costly!) and drive them out of the rental market, releasing a raft of homes for first time buyers.

Whether they like it or not, addressing climate change will impact the conveyancing industry and David urges conveyancers to get to grips with the requirements now given the emphasis both government and lenders are placing on it.

Resources:
The Chancery Lane Project
Law Society Resolution on Climate Change

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In a post-pandemic society "the new normal" has come to symbolise the way in which our personal and business lives have changed following the significant upheaval of the last 2 years.

But what does a "new normal" mean in the property industry?

Following a survey of over 700 property professionals we can reveal exactly what it means  as host David Opie is joined by tmgroup's CEO Joe Pepper and mio Sales Director Nick Ball to discuss their research report "The New Normal."

Released in January 2022, 8 months on Joe and Nick talk about the progress being made and how we are faring against those early 2022 predictions. And how have firms reacted in the months since the end of the SDLT relief and the overwhelming demand played on the conveyancing by the home moving frenzy of 2021?

Have things really changed for conveyancers after the "call to arms" of the last couple of years? Or are firms still reliant on the "extraordinary dedication of their people" as the report details?

Listen in to hear Joe and Nick's thoughts and the results of "The New Normal" which can be downloaded here: https://www.tmgroup.co.uk/the-new-normal/.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this latest podcast from Today's Conveyancer host David Opie is joined by Mustafa Hassan, a consultant solicitor with law firm Taylor Rose MW. 

An increasingly popular employment model, Mustafa, a residential and commercial property practitioner, discusses the reasons why he first investigated the opportunity to become a consultant solicitor, and the drawbacks and benefits as he sees them. 

Taylor Rose MW, alongside others like gunnercooke and Setfords, have adopted the consultant model to offer an alternative employment structure, with all the pros and cons of self employment, under the umbrella of a large and well strcutured firm. 

Mustafa discusses some of the practicalities including PI, workload, client ownership, marketing and much more in this warts and all podcast discussing the consultant solicitor model. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

Following the passing of the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 implemented in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the government has introduced a new anti-money laundering measure designed to tackle the opaque nature of foreign ownership in the UK property market.

1% of all UK residential property is now in foreign ownership, a figure that has tripled since 2010. 

In this latest podcast David Opie is joined by Executive Chairman of Armalytix Mike Ward to discuss what the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE) is, and what the implications are for conveyancing firms. 

This timely discussion, with the legislation coming into effect from 1st August 2022, is a must listen for all conveyancers as regardless of their own client base, there is a chance in the not too distant future of chains involving overseas entities breaking down because the foreign entities are unable to submit their registration to Companies House. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

Burnout is a subject close to the heart of conveyancers up and down the country following the challenges of the last couple of years. 

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie is joined by Lead Steele, a coach and trainer for law firms and founder of Searching for Serenity. 

As a former lawyer, Leah is well versed in the culture of law firms having gone through her own experiences of burnout.  She now spends her time helping others understand burnout, how to better understand its impact and what practical steps can be taken to support ourselves and those around us. 

In a fascinating discussion Leah explores how we can recognise the symptoms of burnout and points to both personal and organisational factors as critical to better understanding its impact and what lessons we can take as individuals and employers. 

Significantly Leah dispels the myth that stress is always bad. Yes, there are bad types of stress, but stress can also push us, and motivate us to achieve. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie is joined by solicitor and Director at Big Yellow Penguin Ltd Shaun Jardine to discuss the opportunity for conveyancing firms to charge more for their work.

Value is in the eye of the beholder, so they saying goes, and Shaun, an experienced ex-Managing Partner of a large Midlands law firm, outlines his view of how firms are undervaluing their service.

In an "unscientific LinkedIn survey" Shaun established that 78% of consumers would pay over £2000 for the conveyance of a property worth £650,000. And yet, a subsequent online search found that none of the online quotation engines tested provided a figure any where near that.

In the course of the illuminating discussion Shaun discusses his tactics for helping conveyancing firms understand the needs and wants of home movers, before providing a price.

And if the client doesn't want to pay it, walk away, because it's not worth your time.  

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today’s Conveyancer Podcast, host David Opie sits down with Louise Wise of Relatus to shed light on the complex world of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) and how proactive advice can transform outcomes for conveyancers and clients alike.

Drawing on her transition from family law solicitor to specialist in property taxation, Louise shares the journey that led her to become a leading voice in SDLT advisory. She explains how Relatus evolved from assisting consumers with business rate relief to specialising in SDLT and partnering more closely with legal professionals.

The conversation tackles the practical risks conveyancers face, especially around compliance checks, liability, and the nuances of under- or overpaying stamp duty. Louise outlines the importance of correctly identifying property types, assessing client circumstances, and understanding legislative grey areas.

They also explore overlooked considerations such as incentives on new-build properties, purchaser characteristics, and the implications of developer contributions.

With a clear focus on risk mitigation, collaboration, and accuracy, this episode is an essential listen for conveyancers seeking clarity, protection, and a more robust approach to SDLT reporting. Louise’s insights reveal why outsourcing tax advice could soon become as routine as ordering searches.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

With more information coming out about the planned National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) vision for making "material information" available up front for homebuyers, this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast explores what the knock on benefit for conveyancers is. 

It is anticipated that by better understanding the full extent of the transaction at the outset, conveyancers will be able to price more effectively, accounting for any transactional anomalies or complications, and allocate resource appropriately.

David Opie is joined by Jason Howarth, founder of Veya (not Veyo!)  to discuss how conveyancers can get more involved in the home moving process at an earlier stage and work with the agent and home mover to fully understand 

• any potential pitfalls with the house of their dreams
• how best to navigate them to ensure a speedy resolution
• how this can lead to a smoother moving experience all round 

With the launch of Part A, organisations marketing properties must include

"information that, regardless of outcome, is always considered material for all properties regardless of location. This information generally involves unavoidable costs that will be incurred by the occupier regardless of the use of the property."

Currently this includes Price/Rent, Tenure and Council Tax Band. Parts B and C will include "non-standard" features. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this week's Today's Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie is joined by marketing guru, Clare Fanner. 

Clare has held senior marketing roles in law firms and is well placed to provide her take on what conveyancers should, and shouldn't(!) be doing, as well as the future of marketing in law firms.

 In her current role, as founder of Law Firm Marketing Club, Clare provides a range of resources for lawyers and law firms to help them in their day-to-day marketing challenges.  

Are law firms under-resourced when it comes to their marketing investment? Or is there a lack of direction and understanding about the value of marketing? Is marketing becoming a much more specialised function with different skill sets required for paid advertising and social media management for example. 

Happily, Clare sees some real positives... there is greater representation of marketing considerations at a senior level. Clare shares her thoughts on the value of marketing across the firm and provides her tips on making the most of your marketing resource, borne out of her experience working in law firms.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast David Opie is joined by Ombudsman at The Legal Ombudsman, Jason Chapman.

The Legal Ombudsman was introduced in 2010, replacing the Legal Complaints Commission and in the course of discussion Jason reveals that conveyancing is one of the most complained about areas of law 

In total the Ombudsman deals with about 6000 cases per year, of which 1/3rd are related to conveyancing. In general, between 10-30% of complaints are taken forward to final decision and 48-50% complaints are upheld.

 In the course of the discussion Jason outlines some of the main areas of complaints, and provides some thoughts on how best to avoid complaints in the first place, and deal with them most effectively as and when they do happen. 

Jason also discusses the impact of the SDLT exemption and extension, which had a huge impact on conveyancers at the time, and an unintended knock-on impact on other areas of service delivery for law firms. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

Founder of the Bold Legal Group Rob Hailstone joins David Opie in this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast.

Rob talks about his 40-plus years in conveyancing and his own journey from running a busy conveyancing practice in Bovey Tracey through to HIP-provider, and on to championing the work of conveyancers up and down the country though the popular membership organisation Bold Legal Group.

Through BLG Rob sees the best and worst of the conveyancing industry. Describing the changes since his time as a conveyancer he says

"Back then I would say we had 7 to 10 big plates to keep spinning at one time. Nowadays you have 15-20 smaller plates to keep spinning which is a much harder task."

Rob and David discuss the evolution of conveyancing and what the future holds. Imploring conveyancers to embrace up front information and the wider benefits to the transaction Rob calls on the industry to "grasp the nettle" and level the playing field in property transactions. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In the course of going about our daily routines it is sometimes easy to forget that our counterparts across the property spectrum often face similar challenges. Understanding the challenges of others can inform our own behaviour and our behaviour toward others. 

As Group Compliance Officer at The Guild of Property Professionals, and Fine & Country, Paul is well respected in the estate agency market for his expertise and no-nonsense, practical approach. 

In this latest podcast Paul discusses the pressing issues Estate Agents face on a daily basis, particularly around anti-money laundering and the growing clamour for up front information; challenges familiar to conveyancers up and down the country. 

Paul explains what the implications are for estate agents, and by extension how this impacts conveyancers, and what best practice he sees in his role going into Guild of Property Professional and Fine & Country members across England and Wales.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

Brian Rogers is well known in the legal services sector as one of the founders of compliance software solution Riliance, and is now Regulatory Director at The Access Group.

Having worked with law firms on a range of compliance issues for a number of years, Brian is well versed in the pitfalls and mistakes firms make, particularly when it comes to anti-money laundering. In this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast, Brian discusses the "don'ts" he has witnessed over the years, providing a useful reminder for law firm compliance leaders.

Brian also looks into his crystal ball to consider what risks are coming down the line for law firms, including proper adoption of technology, the cost of compliance and property market volatility in 2022/23.
 
Brian, and Access Legal, have created a comprehensive AML Guide for Law Firms. He is a regular commentator on LinkedIn, and also runs regular compliance updates for law firms.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this Today's Conveyancer Podcast David Opie is joined by Cashroom's Chris and Steven O'Day,  CEO and Head of Technology respectively and Tom Lyes, Head of Legal at Armalytix.

The discussion centres on the opportunity presented by open banking in reducing the risk of fraud across the conveyancing transaction, from initial onboarding through to completion and final final exchange of funds. 

Building workflows using open banking can help with human error and preventing fraudsters from infiltrating manual processes. 

It also enables a "single source of truth" when it comes to source of funds and provides greater certainty and surety for conveyancers in purchase transactions.  

All of which should have a positive impact on Professional Indemnity Insurance premiums, surely?

Listen in to the Today's Conveyancer podcast to find out more... 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

The Today's Conveyancer podcast is joined by experienced HR Director Dan Creed to discuss culture, home and hybrid working, and employment in the "new normal."

With a background in fast growing retail, automotive, hospitality and technology businesses, Dan brings huge experience to his role as HR Director at tmgroup. 

Dan discusses the challenges of being in HR at a time of great change in employment with the pandemic heralding the wider move toward home and hybrid working. The conversation covers;

• how to embrace hybrid working 
• staff performance management
• how to maintain engagement with a remote workforce
• mental health and well-being
• creating the right culture for success
• the impact of improved employee experience on recruitment

Recently recognised at The British Conveyancing Awards in the Employee Experience Category and The UK Employee Excellence Awards Dan outlines what the business has been doing differently that is catching the eye. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this Today's Conveyancer podcast David Opie is joined by Peter Ambrose, Managing Director at The Partnership based in Guildford. 

Peter talks about his experience as a non-lawyer leading a law firm, and how his background in technology in the UK and America has led to him adopting a "technology first" approach at The Partnership.

Peter has been outspoken on the subject of technology and conveyancing. In this podcast he speaks candidly about the current state of the conveyancing market; poor service levels, a lack of technology and innovation, barriers to adoption, fraud, and about the impact on his own business.

Peter also explains how and why he has become an advocate for a single platform conveyancing solution in the quest for quicker and more secure transactions.  

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

UPRN's, or Unique Property Reference Numbers, have the potential to increase surety and speed up the conveyancing process, according to the guests on this Today's Conveyancer podcast. 

David Opie is joined by Nick Chapallaz and Gayle Gander, Managing Director and Head of Marketing at Geoplace; and directors at trade body Conveyancing Information Executive (CIE) Chris Loaring (MD, Landmark Legal) and Stuart Telfer (Operations Director, Groundsure) to discuss the increasing use of UPRN in the conveyancing process. 

In this 25 minute discussion Nick, Gayle, Chris and Stuart discuss the way in which UPRN's are being increasing used as part of the conveyancing process, how they can benefit conveyancers and consumers and speed up the process, and how they see the future of the relationship between UPRN and current property data identifiers such as title numbers. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer Podcast, host David Opie is joined by Thomas Mieszkowski, a partner in the corporate team at Walker Morris LLP. The conversation takes a deep dive into mergers and acquisitions in the legal sector, with a special focus on private equity’s increasing interest in law firms.

Thomas shares insights from his recent experience advising on the sale of two mixed-practice firms to private equity-backed consolidators. He explains what makes law firms appealing to investors—from their recurring revenue and low overheads to the potential for market consolidation in a highly fragmented sector.

The discussion also explores why firms are pursuing investment in the first place. Key drivers include the need for capital to fund tech innovation, evolving succession planning pressures, and the desire to reduce financial risk while enabling growth.

David and Thomas consider what private equity is looking for in a prospective acquisition: strong financial fundamentals, cultural fit, a capable management team, and scalable operations. They touch on deal structures, talent retention strategies, and how firms are positioning themselves for potential sale.

This episode offers a timely and practical look at how private equity is reshaping law firm ownership—and what the future might hold for the sector.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

The 4 day working week is growing in popularity across a range of sectors and is gaining traction in the legal sector as firms adapt to the changing employment landscape, largely influenced by the flexible working approach demanded by the COVID-19 global pandemic. 

In this Today's Conveyancer podcast David Opie is joined by the heads of 2 organisations who are implementing the 4 day working week in their business. 

Natalie Moore, Director at Aconveyancing, and Gavin Wall, CEO at Conveyancing Expert join David Opie to discuss their experiences of adopting the 4 day working week and the practicalities of implementing it in their businesses. 

Natalie and Gavin discuss

• The response from staff
• The dynamics of the 4 day week (coverage Mon-Fri/ working longer hours on the 4 days)
• Client and introducer management 
• The impact on recruitment 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast David Opie is joined by PEXA UK Chief Executive James Bawa and Heather Crichton, General Manager Industry Readiness. 

James and Heather discuss the impending launch of PEXA in the UK and the lessons learned in Australia that they bring with them to help facilitate a more streamlined home move. 

Chief amongst the innovations is "PEXA-Pay," a newly launched payments and reconciliations method approved by The Bank of England designed to speed up payments, making them safer and more secure.

In  this 25 minute episode, James and Heather discuss how they will be launching PEXA in the UK over the course of the next couple of years, starting with the remortgage market in Autumn 2022.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

David Opie is joined by AML expert Amy Bell to discuss what conveyancers need to know about the rising response to the Russia/Ukraine crisis, particularly as more and more sanctions are placed on Russian individuals. 

Amy, who is a Director at Teal Legal and a member of The Law Society's Anti-Money Laundering Taskforce, provides some reassurance, useful tips and pointers that conveyancers need to be aware of, and outlines how to stay on top of what is a rapidly changing situation. 

Far from being "professional enablers" the media would have consumers believe the conveyancing profession is, Amy champions the work being done by the property industry up and down the country. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

How do we solve the home-moving conundrum?

Property industry veteran and co-founder of ProperPR Russell Quirk joins David Opie in discussion about the state of the home moving process.

In typically robust fashion, Russell challenges the conversation about the current state of play, placing the consumer at the heart of his message.

"(Through my involvement in estate agency) I genuinely see and hear the woes of those consumers. First time buyers who are bewildered. Elderly people who wanted to move in March, and don't end up moving until June."

Where does the solution lie? Is it the responsibility of the conveyancing sector to wake up and shake up? Is it technology? Is it culture? Do we think the home-moving process could be challenged by solutions from foreign markets, where the home move is less arduous with lower fall through rates? 

Say it quietly but does the solution actually lie with estate agents... 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast David Opie is joined by Simon McCrum, ex-Managing Partner of Darbys prior to it's sale to Knights in 2016 and now a consultant for law firms.

Simon brings his own experience running departments and law firms to his consultancy McCrum and Co. Through working with law firms he encourages them to to become "The Perfect Legal Business" the subject of his book which is available via his website www.mccrumandco.com.

In this podcast Simon discusses his thoughts on how law firms can be better at what they do, focus on the commercials, and ultimately deliver "life-changing" legal services for their clients. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast David Opie speaks to conveyancing industry personality Eddie Goldsmith.

Eddie has just launched a new service aimed at better engaging home movers in their transaction; reducing the admin for conveyancers and speeding up the transaction.

40 years in the making, YouConvey is currently being piloted with Eddie commenting

“Over my years in practice I have seen at first-hand how homemovers can feel isolated and on the fringe during their transaction. The Government has little appetite for a root and branch review of the process, so any improvements have to be industry initiatives.” 

Eddie also shares his views on conveyancing fees, referral fees and the latest moves to improve the availability and quality of information available to home buyers up front. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer Podcast, David Opie speaks with Stuart Young of MyIdentity about the work being done to improve the process of verifying the identity of home movers in the conveyancing process. 

The idea is to create a single verification of an individual's identity which can then be used throughout the home moving process.

Not only will this save time and cost through the course of a transaction, it is anticipated that compliance with the standards and certifications being established could see Professional Indemnity insurance premiums come down over the next few years for firms conducting conveyancing transactions given that 60% of property fraud starts with identity fraud. 

Tune in to hear what Stuart has to say about improving the quality of information in the sector, the move to placing greater liability on the identity providers, and which identity providers are currently working toward compliance with the new standards. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast we introduce Dan Salmons, CEO of Blockchain technology provider Coadjute. 

Dan sets out to de-mystify what blockchain technology is, and more importantly how it has the potential to make the "quantum leap" in the battle against seemingly ever increasing transaction timescales. 

The discussion comes a week after Coadjute announced plans to launch an industry first mortgage stablecoin on their network, expressly designed to speed-up the completion of mortgages.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

David Opie hosts the latest episode of the Today's Conveyancer Podcast, featuring guest Nick Huntley, Commercial Director at Rello. With extensive experience across estate agency, property portals, and conveyancing technology, Nick offers a wealth of knowledge on sales progression and chain management.

The discussion explores Rello's innovative approach to streamlining home-moving transactions, combining experienced professionals with cutting-edge technology. Nick emphasizes the importance of providing a single source of truth in property chains, ensuring greater transparency, reducing inefficiencies, and improving communication between estate agents, conveyancers, and mortgage brokers.

Nick also highlights the evolving role of AI in property transactions, discussing how automation can complement human expertise rather than replace it. He touches on upcoming changes in material information requirements, the potential benefits of early conveyancer instruction at the point of listing, and how greater collaboration can enhance the process.

This episode offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of technology and property transactions, demonstrating how industry-wide cooperation can improve speed and efficiency in home-moving. Listeners gain valuable insights into the future of sales progression and how solutions like Rello can help reshape the experience.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie welcomes Gavin Burton, Co-founder and trainer at Beruku Knowledge, to discuss the evolving threats of identity fraud, deep fakes, and artificial intelligence in the legal sector. With a distinguished 26-year career in the Metropolitan Police, Gavin led a specialised team focused on ID fraud, making his insights into fraudulent identity documents invaluable.

The conversation explores the increasing availability of counterfeit documents online, the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking perpetrators, and how social media and encrypted messaging services facilitate fraud. Gavin details how criminals manipulate biometric chips and forge machine-readable zones to bypass security checks.

For legal professionals, this discussion underscores the importance of robust ID verification processes, technology-driven solutions, and ongoing awareness training to mitigate risks. Gavin highlights how regulators are imposing significant fines for anti-money laundering failures, reinforcing the need for vigilance in adapting to emerging threats.

His expertise offers a compelling case for leveraging advanced AI tools while understanding the limitations of physical document verification. This episode provides critical insights into fraud prevention, regulation, and technology in modern legal practice.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

The latest podcast explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in conveyancing, focusing on its ability to enhance efficiency, reduce administrative burdens, and improve risk management. Host David Opie is joined by Chris Harris, the founder of Collaborative Conveyancing, who shares insights into how AI-driven tools can streamline tasks such as document analysis, inquiry management, and property searches.

A key takeaway is the shift in client expectations, as AI enables faster information retrieval and response times. Clients are increasingly using AI to fact-check legal processes, which raises new challenges for conveyancers in maintaining trust and transparency.

The discussion delves into the ethical considerations and regulatory challenges surrounding AI adoption, emphasizing the importance of human oversight to mitigate risks such as misinformation and data security concerns. While AI can automate routine processes, the necessity for legal expertise remains crucial in complex property transactions.

Chris Harris presents real-world examples of AI applications, including automated inquiry handling and AI-driven voice assistants for conveyancing quotes. While AI will not replace conveyancers, it is poised to reshape workflows, allowing professionals to focus on complex legal matters rather than routine administrative tasks.

Ultimately, the conversation underscores that AI is not a threat but a tool that, when implemented responsibly, can empower conveyancers and enhance the property transaction process.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

The latest Today's Conveyancer Podcast welcomes PJ Singh and George Levett of Conveyancer Plus to discuss how they are working with firms to help them manage their pipelines, and create a consistent pipeline of work, rather than become over-reliant on third part lead sources. 

The discussion covers how using outsourced services can bring down complaints around communications (conveyancing is the most complained about areas of consumer of law), ensure consistency in pricing and process, which sets expectations accordingly at the outset of the relationship. 

Interestingly, analysis of their service identifies the average call duration with a prospective client is over 8 minutes; and despite the array of communications options (instant messaging, email, live chat etc) George says 80% of enquiries prefer phone calls.

The result is a 95% conversion on estate agent and broker referrals (vs. industry average of 70–80%); near 30% conversion on comparison site leads (vs. typical 5–10%); and 60% conversion on website leads (vs. typical 30–40%).

Only by understanding your numbers in relation to live files and soon-to-be -completed matters can firms be proactive with their business development and ensure they are making data-driven decisions on workload and future bottlenecks. 

PJ and George share their experience of working with firms to improve their conversion rates; not just from the point of view of direct engagement with clients, but also the lessons being learnt around what should be on firm's social media, what should be on their websites, and how consumers respond. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

Expert legal trainer Ian Quayle of IQ Legal Training returns in this series of bitesize Today's Conveyancer Podcast episodes to explore a range of topics around conveyancing. 

"Transaction Tips" draws on Ian's extensive experience in and around the property sector discussing important topics conveyancers need to be thinking about. 

The latest episode considers the bizarre case of Patarkatsishvili and another -v- Woodward-Fisher; better known as the £32.5 million property in London, where the buyer successfully rescinded the contract due to a concealed infestation of clothes moths.

The case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of full and honest disclosure in the conveyancing process says Ian who provides a comprehensive overview of the case, as well as commentary on the impact for conveyancers when it comes to full disclosure on the TA forms, and the impact on the material information debate. 

Ian warns conveyancers to clearly define their role and liability in their retainers, especially when information is shared before formal instruction. He adds misrepresentation—especially fraudulent or reckless—can lead to rescission and damages; Conveyancers must be cautious in advising clients and should avoid assuming liability for pre-instruction disclosures; and reminds us the case underscores the growing importance of transparency, due diligence, and clear legal boundaries in property transactions.

Ian will be back throughout the rest of the year with more Transaction Tips on the Today's Conveyancer Podcast. For information about the training Ian runs please visit www.todaysmedia.co.uk/todays-legal-training.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

Following the publication of The Law Society Climate Change Risk Property Practice Note Today's Conveyancer Podcast host David Opie speaks to former Groundsure CEO and now consultant to the market Dan Montagnani about what the Practice Note does, and critically, doesn't include and what action property lawyers might take as a result. 

Building on the guidance published in 2022, the Practice Note provides property-specific outcomes with clarity no doubt welcomed as it helps define the boundaries of legal responsibility and provides a framework for managing client expectations.

Historically, climate risk in UK property law has focused heavily on flooding. However, the new guidance broadens the scope to include:

Wildfires – increasingly common in the UK, with recent events on Dartmoor and the Manchester Moors.
Drought and water stress – which can affect ground stability and infrastructure.
Heat stress – particularly in urban environments, impacting livability and energy efficiency.

While flooding remains a significant concern (with one in six UK properties at risk), the legal and practical implications of these other issues are becoming more pronounced and must be considered in property transactions.

And it's important to say this is not being driven by the search industry, adds Dan, highlighting the work ongoing across surveying (surveyors and lawyers share a collective responsibility to inform clients) lending and insurance sectors where climate risk is being factored in decision-making driven by both market forces and regulatory pressure.

As has been said before, the guidance reinforces that property lawyers are not expected to assess climate risks themselves but are responsible for:

• Identifying when a property may be affected by climate-related risks.
• Advising clients to seek further information, such as through environmental or climate-specific searches.
• Ensuring clients understand the implications, particularly regarding insurance availability, mortgage lending, and long-term property value.

Importantly, lawyers should clearly define the scope of their services in the retainer, especially if they choose to exclude climate risk advice. However, doing so may require significant effort to ensure clients understand the consequences of that exclusion.

In terms of market acceptance Dan draws parallels with the evolution of contaminated land searches, which took a decade to become standard practice. He predicted that climate searches will become routine much faster due to the availability of the data, regulatory momentum and greater consumer pressure. 

By embracing climate risk assessments, clearly communicating with clients, and leveraging available data, conveyancers can not only protect themselves from liability but also enhance the quality and integrity of their service he concludes. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack