The British Conveyancing Awards, sponsored by Dye & Durham, simply would not happen without the support of the industry.
Thank you to all those who have entered and sponsored the event which this year is hosted as a hybrid event: an in-person ceremony at the stunning Church House in London, simultaneously live streamed via The British Conveyancing Awards website.
Our 2022 ceremony is a departure from the focus of the 2021 awards. To simply repeat the 2021 awards would miss the point of where the conveyancing industry is going. We are entering a different phase for conveyancers with a flatter market, increasing on and offline fraud risks, PII, the balance of flexible working, and continued digitisation all presenting new and different challenges.
Our 2022 categories and supporters reflect this shift in emphasis, and we are delighted to introduce them through a series of Supporter in Focus pieces. Alongside Client Relationship Team of the Year sponsors Stewart Title (www.stewartsolution.com), we look forward to recognising the very best our industry has to offer.
First of all, tell us who you are and what you do
Stewart Title provides a suite of Title Insurance products designed to cover against losses arising from risks in property transactions. We work closely with law firms to provide solutions that enable property transactions to complete speedily and safely. Conveyancers and their clients benefit from our unparalleled underwriting expertise, and the support of a financially strong and responsive partner like Stewart Title.
What prompted you to support The British Conveyancing Awards this year?
We know how busy conveyancers are, particularly given the additional challenges brought on over the past two years. They may not have time to learn about how other firms are innovating and improving their service to clients. By celebrating the achievements of the industry in a very challenging year like 2021, events such as The British Conveyancing Awards help to highlight new ideas, providing useful examples for the industry.
Why did Client Relationship Team of the Year stand out for you as one to throw your support behind?
At Stewart, we appreciate the strength of the relationships we have built with our clients. Our approach has always been that excellence here can help you stand out in the market. Many law firms are now realising that establishing and supporting their Client Relationship Team must form an important part of their strategy, and we wanted to take a moment to recognise these industry achievements.
How do you see the 2022 conveyancing market shaping up?
Our conversations with conveyancers suggest that work levels for firms will remain broadly similar to 2021, but hopefully without the artificial deadlines that created so many challenges for firms and their clients last year.
What changes or improvements do you see need to be made in the conveyancing sector over the next 12-18 months?
The strain on a conveyancer’s workload and possibly even wellbeing was amplified by the various SDLT deadlines in 2021, and firms need to address this. People moving home is at the heart of the conveyancing industry and this process can be full of emotions for buyers, adding additional pressures to conveyancers. Client Relationship Teams will play a significant role in ensuring an easy and respectful dialogue between clients and fee-earners.
What are you doing to lead or be part of that change?
Stewart Title aims to be a knowledgeable and supportive partner for our clients. We appreciate that ease of obtaining quotations and draft policies is key, and our online ordering platform (www.stewartsolution.com) provides simplified ordering. We have recently increased the level of cover (up to £20,000,000) for our most popular online policies, and we are always working to make the system more flexible and intuitive.
Do you have any messages for the sector, and the firms and individuals entering this year’s awards?
These awards are a way of celebrating the great work done by the conveyancing industry in what have been extremely taxing circumstances. While there is no doubt that 2022 will present its own challenges, Stewart Title will continue to focus on being a strong and supportive partner to conveyancers.
Thank you to Stewart Title for their support at The British Conveyancing Awards 2022.
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