Conveyancing champion Sayer fronts fight for property groups

LAW Society conveyancing campaigner Robert Sayer has drawn up proposals he believes will allow law firms in England and Wales to set up profitable Scottish-style property groups.

The former vice-president, who has been asked by president Tony Girling to be deputy treasurer, has already entered informal talks with Chancery Lane staff to present his views on ways of importing the highly successful Scottish idea.

Sayer has been spurred on by calls from the 150-firm Solicitors Property Group which has accused the society of being reluctant to back an initiative which has yielded impressive results in Scotland.

"I believe the Law Society's strict rules governing joint ventures between firms conducting estate agency work can be relaxed to make it easier for them to succeed here," he said.

He argues that the ban on solicitor estate agents offering financial services should be dropped to allow them to compete on a level playing field with ordinary estate agents.

He also says the Law Society rule which states that firms in a joint venture must be treated as if they are in one large practice should be abolished.