Frequently asked questions relating to the Adam & Company Conveyancing Panel from members of the public
I was advised recently by my broker that my lawyer is not on the Adam & Company Solicitor panel. What can I do to be sure that this is correct?
The first thing you need to do is to contact your conveyancer. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to advise you what has happened. If they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the conveyancing panel for Adam & Company.
I am buying a newly constructed apartment and my solicitor is informing me that she is duty bound to disclose incentives from the developer as her firm is on the Adam & Company conveyancing panel. I am under pressure to exchange contracts and my preference is not to prolong the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on the Adam & Company approved panel is to comply with the CML Handbook requirements (last updated for this lender on Adam & Company). The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
Do all the firms listed on your search have online case tracking as I was under the impression that this was a precondition of being on the Adam & Company conveyancing panel?
No. There is no CML Part 2 or Building Society Association requirement relating to online case tracking. Some law firms operate such technology and some don't.
I am trying to get my ex-husband removed the mortgage deeds. Can Adam & Company really insist on which solicitor I can or can not instruct?
You can use any solicitor you like but Adam & Company then has the right to appoint a different solicitor to act for them at your expense. It might be more cost effective and quicker to instruct a lawyer who is on the Adam & Company solicitors panel
Is it the case that all conveyancing solicitors on the Adam & Company conveyancing panel work on a no sale no fee basis?
In the main there are no requirements by lenders for their firms to operate on a no-sale-no-fee basis. There a small number of lenders who operate a very restricted conveyancing panel managed by a third party company (often termed in the industry as a ‘gatekeeper’). That third party may impose certain conditions such as non-sale-no fee on the panel firms. If you require this as a condition of your conveyancing then you should check with the conveyancing firm that this is part of their service
I previously instructed online solicitors located in London who are on the Adam & Company solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate fee of £150 for dealing with the Adam & Company mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Adam & Company?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your solicitors can charge a fee for this. This fee is not set by Adam & Company but by your lawyers. Some firms on the Adam & Company will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
I have not been happy with the level or service received from my lawyer. Is there a Adam & Company conveyancing panel complaints department or do I complain directly to the law firm?
Complaining to Adam & Company about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. All solicitors and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. Usually one can find this information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.
The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.
If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.