Howells has won a prestigious Bronze award for its conveyancing service in the Estate Agency of the Year 2013 Awards.

The Awards, sponsored by The Times and The Sunday Times, saw Howells win third place in the Best Large Conveyancer category – becoming the highest placed solicitors in Wales and across South England. Taking place at the Lancaster London Hotel on Friday 6th December and hosted by TV presenter Penny Smith, the events recognised some of the UK’s leading estate agents and housing experts.

A panel of independent industry professionals judged Howells over a number of months. They contacted various offices, acting as ‘mystery shoppers’, and sought the opinion of both staff and customers. A spokesman from the Awards praised the training, procedures and systems that were in place at Howells to ensure that the conveyancing process was as effective as possible for customers. They said:

“Particularly impressive is the large number of referrals they receive from house builders, who require a committed 28 day turnaround on conveyancing. The fact that they trust Howells to achieve this for them speaks volumes as to the efficiency and quality of their service.” More...

If you’re struggling to scratch together the deposit to buy a home in Wales, then the Help To Buy scheme could be the assistance that you need. The new government regulation offers thousands of people across Wales the chance to own something that you can really call home.

What exactly is it? How does it affect people in Wales? 

What is the Help To Buy scheme?

Help To Buy consists of two separate initiatives which aim to make it easier for people to buy their own home. The two parts both present different ways for people with small deposits to find a mortgage in Wales. Those two parts are:

•    UK Mortgage Guarantee Scheme

•    Help To Buy Wales

The UK Mortgage Guarantee Scheme

Available for all properties across the UK up to a value of £600,000, this government initiative allows any first-time buyer or homeowner in the UK arrange a mortgage with a lender with a deposit of just 5%.  More...

So, you’ve done our Christmas Employment Law Quiz and made a note of your answers. Now, it’s time to find out if you were correct. Check out the answers below and mark your work. More...

At Howells Solicitors we understand that moving home when you are a first time buyer can be very expensive so during the festive period, we will be offering a first time buyer the opportunity to use our conveyancing services free of charge (including search fees!).

During the festive period, Howells will be offering a first time buyer the opportunity to win free legal representation (including the cost of the search fees) when they purchase their new home which will equate to a saving of over £600!

To enter the competition, applicants are invited to e-mail info@howellslegal.com  and in no more than 150 words explain why they think they should be selected to receive the legal fees for free! 
A team from our conveyancing department will judge the entrants and decide who will win the free conveyancing prize.More...

Family Law is an ever-changing legal sphere, with new regulations and practices being introduced every year. Internationally, family law becomes even more complex. That’s why it’s essential to work with trusted solicitors who know the relevant legal procedures inside out.

Our Family Law Partner Richard Scott was asked to give his experience of the issues facing families in the UK for Corporate Livewire.

Corporate LiveWire provides business professionals and individuals in the corporate finance sector with information on the latest news and developments from industry leaders from around the globe.

Specialising in all aspects of family law, from divorce and financial issues to cohabitee disputes and domestic, he joined other solicitors practicing in New York, London and Kiev and shared his experience of family law in Cardiff and the UK.

Richard and his contemporaries discussed a number of issues related to family law, from child support and dispute resolution to private investigators and the role of the media in family courts. They also talked about recent changes in their relevant jurisdictions, issues of privacy, the balance between maternal and paternal responsibilities and how different countries take varying roles in safeguarding clients. More...