When a mortgage is involved, your solicitor must be acceptable to your lender — on its conveyancing panel — or the transaction needs a second firm and a second bill. Connaught Law acts on the panels of a wide range of UK mortgage lenders, so buyers, remortgagers and brokers can keep both sides of the transaction in one place.
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How We Can Help
What a Lender Panel Is
Mortgage lenders only allow vetted law firms to act on their security — firms that meet their requirements on regulation, insurance, accounts and track record. Panel membership means one firm can represent both you and your lender in the same transaction, which is how most residential conveyancing runs: faster, cheaper and with one point of contact instead of two firms copying each other in.
For Buyers & Remortgagers
Instructing a panel firm means your purchase or remortgage proceeds with one firm handling your side and the lender's: mortgage conditions checked, the lender's requirements satisfied, funds drawn down on time and the charge registered. It's the difference between a transaction and a relay race.
For Brokers
Brokers live and die by completion dates. We give broker introductions a named solicitor, direct contact rather than a call centre, and honest early warnings when a case has a problem — because a broker who hears bad news late doesn't come back. High-street to specialist and bridging lenders, residential and investment cases alike.
Lender Requirements & the Handbook
Acting for a lender means satisfying the UK Finance Mortgage Lenders' Handbook and each lender's individual part 2 requirements — title, searches, insurance, leasehold terms, new-build warranties and disclosure duties. Panel membership also rests on standards like the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme, which we hold. It's exacting, unglamorous work, and doing it right is exactly what keeps completions on schedule and mortgage offers unrevoked.
If Your Solicitor Isn't on Panel
When a chosen firm isn't on the lender's panel, the lender instructs separate solicitors at the borrower's cost, and two firms must duplicate every step — typically adding weeks and hundreds of pounds. If you've hit this problem mid-transaction, moving the file to a panel firm is usually faster than running dual representation; we take over transactions at every stage.
How We Work
Tell us the lender and the transaction; we confirm panel position immediately and give you a clear fee quote — our conveyancing calculator gives an instant estimate. From instruction, one solicitor runs both sides: your interests first, the lender's requirements satisfied in parallel, and completion coordinated with broker and lender so funds arrive when the chain needs them.
Why Connaught Law
01Both sides, one firmPanel membership keeps your transaction under one roof — no duplicated work, no second bill, no relay race.
02Handbook disciplineLender requirements satisfied first time — the quiet skill that keeps offers alive and completions on date.
03Senior attention throughoutYour transaction is run by our experienced property team, not passed down — with direct access to the person handling it.
04Broker-grade communicationNamed contacts, straight answers and early warnings — for borrowers and the brokers who sent them.
Fee structures are set out on our fees page — clear before you instruct, not after.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a conveyancing panel?
A lender's approved list of law firms allowed to act on its mortgages. Panel firms are vetted on regulation, insurance and performance, and most lenders administer their lists through the LMS or Lender Exchange platforms. If your solicitor isn't on your lender's panel, the lender appoints its own firm at your expense.
Are you on my lender's panel?
Very likely — our appointments span all three panel platforms: LMS (HSBC UK, NatWest, RBS, TSB, Virgin Money and most high-street names), Lender Exchange (Barclays, Santander, Cumberland and specialist providers) and Smoove (Metro Bank, Foundation Home Loans); the full list is above. Panels change from time to time, so if your lender isn't listed, tell us who your mortgage is with and we'll confirm the same day — before you instruct anyone.
Does using a panel solicitor cost more?
Usually less overall. One firm acting for you and the lender avoids the separate-representation fee you'd pay for the lender's own solicitors, and removes the delay of two firms duplicating title work. Your own legal fees are quoted up front either way.
My solicitor isn't on the panel — what are my options?
Three: your firm applies to join (slow, uncertain mid-transaction), the lender instructs separate solicitors alongside yours (extra cost and time), or the file moves to a firm already on panel. Mid-transaction, the third is almost always fastest — transfers are routine and we pick files up at every stage.
Mortgage offer in hand?
Tell us the lender and the property. We'll confirm panel position and a clear quote today — one firm, both sides, on schedule.
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