Yes. All the legal work in our offices is carried out or supervised by a Partner or senior members of our team with whom you will have direct contact at all times. All solicitors in private practice must hold a Practising Certificate issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Amongst other things, this ensures that in the unlikely event that anything should go wrong, there is insurance to protect you.

If we have not acted for you before, or even if we have but do not yet have identification evidence for you, you will need to bring to your first interview (1) your passport or modern driving licence with a photograph and (2) a domestic utility account or bank statement showing your current address. We have to have this to comply with very strict anti-money laundering regulations. Where we are acting for you in connection with the purchase of a property, we will also require proof of source of funds.

According to the urgency of your legal business, you can expect to have an appointment within a matter of days. Naturally, in urgent cases our Partners and senior members of the team will be able to see you out of normal office hours.

Charges vary quite substantially between different firms of solicitors for different types of work. Experience and expertise of the solicitor and the complication of the work are crucial factors. By special arrangement we would not charge for the first, short, interview when we would weigh up what is involved in your case. At this stage neither you or our firm would be under any obligation. It is very important however at that stage that both you and we know of the kind of cost your case might involve. You can expect us to provide information about this but, in any event, you should ask. Our terms of business including information about the cost will be confirmed in writing.

Yes. We regard it as important that you can speak directly to the fee earner handling your case. Of course, he or she will not always be immediately available but other staff in the office will take a message for you and your call will be returned. Only exceptionally would this not be possible on the same day.