In an exclusive interview with the Today's Conveyancer Podcast Circe Law CEO Jade Gani explains why a newly-launched alliance is taking the Solicitors Regulation Authority to task on changes to the compliance regime, explaining how the proposals will disproportionately impact small and medium sized law firms.

As one of the founders of the SME & Boutique Law Firm Alliance Gani explains the group is not opposed to protections which would reduce the risk of notable recent failures including Axiom Ince and PM Law, but raises concerns the route proposed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority would not only not be effective, but would disproportionately impact boutique and high street law firms with a knock-on impact on access to justice, consumers choice, and diversity in the law.

As it stands, from January 2027 law firms with a turnover over £600,000 or over £2m in their client account will be required to separate the roles of Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) from those with "unilateral decision making" responsibilities in the firm.

The group say they have asked for the rules changes to be paused while evidence of what risks are posed at the thresholds proposed is gathered. Gani adds the proposals are unworkable in smaller firms, around 15% of the overall number of regulated law firms, where there are no suitable alternative postholders.

So contentious is the debate, the Alliance has said it would call for a vote of no confidence in the leadership at the regulator should the proposals go ahead.

In an open letter and subsequent meeting with the SRA the group has proposed a number of alternatives which they say would have a more proportionate and effective impact.

In response the SRA has said it agreed with the need to better protect the public by strengthening the safeguards around client money and was "committed to continuing the conversation on this important issue" before responding further.

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

Over the past five year InfoTrack have been charting the progress of technology adoption in conveyancing through its bi-annual Digital Conveyancing Maturity Index.

The survey asks a series of question about the technology conveyancing firms use through the various stages of conveyancing, and the report is designed to help law firms track their technological progress against competitors and the wider industry.

Although InfoTrack Chief Operating Officer Sam Jordan won't be drawn on this year's top scoring firms (the report is published on 1st October) there is a distinct change in the latest results as medium to large law firms have now overtaken the small and medium-sized firms who were initially the most agile adopters in previous reports. The shift is attributed to larger firms implementing integrated, firm-wide platforms which take time to embed and adopt. Interestingly adds Jordan, data shows that firms participating in the index multiple times see their scores improve at a much faster rate than first-time participants.

What Jordan does divulge is some of the methodology and a breakdown of where in the transaction technology adoption is most mature. Onboarding and post-completion remain the most digitally advanced areas, largely as a result of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversely, pre-completion remains the least digitally mature; and while while 50% of firms have transitioned away from email to manage inquiries, only 15% utilise shared digital workspaces between buying and selling firms according to the research.

This year's results highlights the rapid acceleration and adoption of AI-enabled technologies, devoting a whole new section of the report to AI with the discussion exploring how firms should focus on specific "jobs to be done" and let technology naturally solve those administrative pain points.

The report serves as a reminder that widespread digitalisation is an inevitable evolutionary step for any thriving business sector and conveyancing is most certainly on that journey. The full findings and rankings of the latest survey will be published at the Digital Conveyancing Summit on 1st October.

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 explores how a former premier league footballer became a campaigner and law firm owner, championing redress for for people impacted by fraudulent overseas investments.

After falling victim to a property investment scam himself, former Arsenal, Southampton and Manchester City footballer Neil Heaney set about seeking justice.

Heaney's story starts after he and a group of other investors became victims of a large-scale property fraud in Spain that resulted in significant financial losses. The experience exposed the difficulties individuals face when trying to pursue legal remedies in another country. Heaney is at pains to point out overseas investment scams are not limited to wealthy individuals or sports professionals. While footballers often attract headlines, he notes that ordinary consumers can be equally vulnerable.

The experience was the inspiration for launching his own law firm Judicare which deals solely with specialist international legal support

While the podcast explores some of the key lessons before people should consider before entering any overseas investment or property transaction, including conducting searches on companies and developers, and looking beyond attractive marketing materials and sales pitches, many problems could be avoided if people sought specialist legal support before committing their money.

What started as a personal mission soon evolved into a broader service as other investors approached him for help with disputes in countries including Bulgaria, Greece and the Dominican Republic. Recognising a wider gap in the market, Heaney gradually built Judicare into an SRA regulated specialist international legal practice supporting clients across 15 jurisdictions.

He now spends much of his time working and interviewing lawyers in foreign jurisdictions to support his work which is focused on "before" and "after" legal issues. The "after" work involves assisting clients who have encountered problems such as fraud, failed developments, inheritance disputes or other overseas legal challenges. The "before" work focuses on helping individuals safely purchase property abroad, guiding them through due diligence, legal checks, contracts and completion processes. The firm also advises on probate matters, inheritances, wills and residency applications where assets or interests are located outside the UK.

Concluding the discussion Heaney explains how the set up of a new affiliate programme, the JLaw Network, will provide firms with an opportunity offer international legal support through a trusted, SRA-regulated partner.

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