Terms of Business

Your matter will be handled by a qualified member of the Wilson Law legal team—this may include a Partner, Solicitor, Legal Executive, or Conveyancing Executive. The individual responsible for your case, along with the name of the Supervising Partner, will be clearly identified in your Terms of Business and Client Care Summary.

Where appropriate, aspects of your matter may be delegated to other employees to ensure efficient progress and cost-effectiveness. All delegated work is carried out under close supervision, and Wilson Law retains full responsibility for the quality and accuracy of that work.

Scope of Work
The services we will provide are outlined in your Terms of Business and Client Care Summary.

For conveyancing matters, our engagement is limited to the standard conveyance of the property. This does not include additional or unusual legal services or tax advice. Should the matter extend beyond the normal scope of conveyancing, we will advise you in advance of any additional charges that may apply.
If, for any reason, the transaction does not reach completion, we will issue an invoice reflecting the work undertaken up to that point.

Timescales
An estimated timescale for your matter is provided in your Terms of Business and Client Care Summary. This estimate is based on our professional experience but may be subject to change, particularly where the timely cooperation of third parties is required.

Costs, Disbursements and Billing

(a) Estimated Fees

Where applicable, fee estimates are provided in your Terms of Business and Client Care Summary, exclusive of VAT.

(b) Professional Charges

Our charges are primarily based on the time spent handling your matter. This includes, but is not limited to:

Meetings with you

Reviewing, drafting, and preparing documents

Correspondence and telephone calls

Preparation of bills and statements of account

 

Current hourly rates (effective 2026):

Senior Partner: £350

Partner Solicitor: £325

Solicitor: £295

Paralegal: £200

All hourly rates are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate (currently 20%) and are reviewed annually on 1 January. You will be notified in writing of any adjustments.

Letters, emails, and telephone calls are recorded and charged in six-minute units (1/10th of an hour). If your matter requires work outside of normal business hours, we reserve the right to apply a higher hourly rate.

 

In property transactions, estate administrations, or matters involving significant financial benefit to you, we may apply a value element to our fees. This may reflect:

The value of the property or estate

The complexity or urgency of the matter

The level of responsibility and time required

If applicable, we will inform you of the value element in writing prior to applying it.

Should the work required reduce during the course of the matter, we will only charge for work done and disbursements incurred. Charges will not exceed the current fee estimate.

 

(c) Disbursements and Other Costs

You will be responsible for disbursements specific to your matter. These may include (but are not limited to):

 

Search fees

Land Registry fees

Stamp Duty

Probate fees

Barristers’ or expert fees

 

Some disbursements are subject to VAT. Where funds must be sent electronically (e.g. to you, a lender, or the other side’s solicitors), a bank transfer fee of £35 + VAT per transfer will apply.

 

(d) Initial Payments on Account

As we will incur expenses from the outset, we may request a payment on account to cover initial costs, disbursements, and VAT. Further payments may be required during the course of the matter. Upon completion, any surplus will be refunded.

 

Please note we are not obligated to begin work until the initial payment is received. All payments on account will be reflected in your final invoice.

 

(e) Invoice Payments

You may pay your invoice by:

 

Bank transfer

Credit or debit card

Cash (up to a maximum of £500)

 

We reserve the right to apply a 2% + VAT surcharge on credit card payments. These should be made in person at our office. If not possible, we may require verification to ensure payment is authorised by the cardholder.

 

Important Notice on Fraud Prevention:

 

We will never notify you of changes to our bank details by email.

We will never accept changes to your bank details via email.

Always call our office to verify account details before sending funds.

We accept no liability for losses arising from fraud or interception by third parties.

 

If you deposit cash directly into our account, we will carry out additional due diligence to verify the source of funds. Where we are due to send funds to you, payment will be made by direct bank transfer unless otherwise instructed in writing.

 

(f) Billing Procedures

For property and commercial transactions:

A detailed statement of fees and disbursements will be issued. Payment is required at least five working days before completion, unless otherwise agreed. If sufficient funds are held on your behalf, and you have been invoiced, we will deduct our charges from those funds.

If the transaction does not complete, we will invoice you for the work undertaken up to the date of termination.

 

For all other matters:

An invoice will be issued upon completion. For matters extending beyond three months, we may issue interim invoices.

If you have concerns about a bill, please contact us promptly. You have the right to:

 

Complain about a bill

Apply for an assessment under Part III of the Solicitors Act 1974

Contact the Legal Ombudsman

 

Late Payment:

 

Interim bills must be paid within 7 days

Final bills must be paid within 14 days

 

We reserve the right to suspend work, terminate instructions, and retain your documents if bills remain unpaid. We may also charge interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate on overdue accounts.

 

Our Service to You

At Wilson Law, we are committed to delivering high-quality legal services at a fair and transparent cost. We uphold the principles of equality and diversity in all interactions—with clients, third parties, and our staff.

 

As part of our commitment to client care, we will:

 

Communicate with you clearly and in plain language;

Explain the legal processes and steps involved as your matter progresses;

Provide regular updates regarding both the progress and the costs involved;

Advise you if the likely outcomes no longer justify the associated costs and risks, especially in light of any significant changes;

Inform you of any foreseeable risks or circumstances that may affect your matter;

Keep you up to date on any relevant changes in the law;

Regularly review whether alternative funding arrangements may be available;

Respond promptly and courteously to your queries;

Handle your personal data in accordance with our obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018.

 

In return, we kindly ask that you:

 

Provide clear, accurate, and timely instructions;

Keep us informed of any relevant developments in your matter;

Supply required documentation without undue delay;

Attend scheduled appointments on time;

Notify us of any change in your contact details;

Respond promptly to our communications and requests;

Settle invoices promptly when due.

 

Communications

We will communicate with you primarily via email, telephone, or post. If you have a preferred method of communication, please let us know so we can accommodate your preference where practicable.

 

Please note:

 

All incoming emails are scanned for viruses.

 

Unless you advise otherwise, we may also correspond with third parties by email or fax where appropriate. However, we cannot guarantee the security of such communications and accept no liability for any breach of confidentiality arising from their use.

 

We do not accept service of legal documents by email.

 

Legal Documents

During the course of your matter, we may send you legal documents or paperwork for your review and signature. These documents can be complex and may carry significant legal implications. We strongly recommend that you review them carefully and raise any questions or concerns with us before signing.

 

Joint Instructions

If you instruct us jointly with another party—such as a spouse, relative, co-owner, or business partner—we will treat instructions from any one of you as having been given on behalf of all joint clients, unless you advise us otherwise in writing. Prior to acting, we must verify the identity of each client involved.

 

In matters involving companies, we will accept instructions from an individual director unless you notify us in writing of an alternative authorised representative.

 

Unless agreed otherwise in writing, all joint clients will be jointly and severally liable for our costs and any associated disbursements.

 

In property transactions involving joint owners, net sale proceeds will be distributed equally unless you provide us with contrary instructions. Unless notified, we will assume that you are the sole beneficiary of the proceeds and that no third-party trusts or beneficial interests exist.

Conflicts of Interest

At Wilson Law, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of professional integrity. As such, we will not normally act for two or more clients in the same matter where there is an actual or potential conflict of interest between them.

 

However, we may agree to act for multiple clients in the same matter if:

 

A substantial common interest exists;

We have explained the relevant issues and risks to each client;

Each client has provided informed written consent to us acting for all parties;

 

We are satisfied that doing so is reasonable, in the best interests of all clients, and that the benefits outweigh any risks.

 

In such cases, no individual within the firm will act for or supervise work for more than one of the clients. We will put in place appropriate safeguards to ensure that all client information remains confidential and protected.

 

If we are later required to cease acting for one or more clients due to a conflict or other reason, those clients will be liable for any costs and disbursements incurred on their behalf up to that point.

 

Money Held for and Due to You

Funds we hold on your behalf are deposited into a dedicated client account with Lloyds Bank PLC, which we use in accordance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) rules.

 

We will return any money due to you by bank transfer.

 

At the conclusion of your matter, should there be a small residual balance remaining on our client ledger:

 

If the balance is less than £30 and we are unable to return it to you, we may donate it to our Charity of the Year in line with our corporate social responsibility policy.

 

If the balance is £30 or more, we will attempt to contact you and arrange repayment. If we are unable to reach you within 30 working days from our attempt to contact you, and the balance is less than £500, we reserve the right to donate the funds to our Charity of the Year.

 

We will always take all reasonable steps to safeguard any client funds held by us.

 

Client Account Interest Policy

We may hold client money from time to time in the course of providing legal services. In accordance with the SRA Accounts Rules, we may account to you for interest earned on these funds in a manner that is fair and reasonable.

 

General Client Account

Funds are typically held in an instant access account to allow timely transactions. Interest may be payable under the following conditions:

 

Interest will only be considered if money is held for more than six months;

 

Interest, if payable, will be calculated on a daily basis;

 

The applicable interest rate will be that paid by Barclays Everyday Saver Account;

 

Where the total interest accrued during a transaction is less than £100, no interest will be paid.

 

Where interest due exceeds £100, we reserve the right to charge an administration fee of up to £100 + VAT.

 

Term Deposits

If you request in writing that funds be held in a term deposit, any interest earned on such funds will be paid to you in full (subject to any applicable withholding tax), less an administration fee of up to £100 + VAT.

 

Designated Deposit Accounts

If your funds are placed in a separate designated deposit account (i.e. a specific account opened for your matter), interest will accrue at the applicable Lloyds Bank PLC rate and will be paid to you upon request, again subject to any tax and a £100 + VAT administration fee.

Limitation of Liability

Unless otherwise agreed in writing at the outset of your matter, our liability for any loss or damage arising from negligence, breach of contract, or duty of care is limited to £3 million.

 

No partner, member, or employee of Wilson Law shall be personally liable to you for any loss or damage arising from a breach of contract or negligence in their individual capacity.

 

No claim may be brought more than six years after the act or omission, or, where the issue was not apparent at that time, more than six months after it became known.

 

These limitations do not apply to liability for:

 

Fraud;

 

Death or personal injury caused by negligence;

 

Any other matter for which liability cannot be legally excluded.

 

Your statutory rights remain unaffected.

 

Limited Companies

When we are instructed to act on behalf of a limited company, we may require a director or controlling shareholder to provide a personal guarantee in respect of our legal fees and disbursements. A director’s signature—whether physical or via email confirmation—will be deemed to constitute such a guarantee, unless otherwise expressly agreed.

 

Tax Advice

Please note that Wilson Law is not a firm of tax advisers. While your matter may have tax implications or necessitate tax planning, we do not provide specialist tax advice.

 

If you are concerned about any potential tax consequences, you must notify us immediately. Where appropriate, we will:

 

Undertake limited research, if within our expertise;

 

Refer you to specialist tax advisers or counsel;

 

Seek your consent and a retainer before incurring any third-party fees, which will be passed on to you.

 

Complaints

We are committed to providing high-quality legal services and client care. If at any point you are dissatisfied with the service you receive or wish to complain about a bill, please contact the Partner Responsible for your matter.

 

If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may escalate it to our Client Care Senior Partner, Eve Wilson, who will oversee the final stage of our internal complaints process.

 

External Complaints

If we are unable to resolve your complaint within eight weeks, you may refer the matter to the:

 

Legal Ombudsman

Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk

Address: PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ

 

The Legal Ombudsman will normally consider complaints made:

 

Within one year of the act or omission;

 

Or within one year of when you first became aware of the issue;

 

And within six months of receiving our final written response.

 

The Ombudsman may refuse to investigate if:

 

There was no significant loss, distress, inconvenience, or detriment;

 

The matter is disproportionately complex or time-consuming;

 

There has been an undue delay in lodging the complaint;

 

A reasonable offer has already been accepted.

 

For complaints related to data protection, contact the Information Commissioner’s Office at www.ico.org.uk.

 

All disputes arising from this agreement will be governed by the laws of England and Wales and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English and Welsh courts.

 

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and other anti-money laundering legislation, we are legally required to verify your identity and address before undertaking any work on your behalf.

 

By accepting these Terms of Business, you agree to:

 

Provide satisfactory evidence of your identity and address;

 

Accept that we may be obliged to report suspicious activity to the relevant authorities without prior notice to you;

 

Understand that we are not liable for any loss you may incur as a result of such disclosures made in accordance with our statutory duties.

 

We may also incur expenses (e.g. company search fees) in verifying your identity, which will be charged to you as necessary.

 

Acceptable Identification Documents

To confirm identity (one of the following):

 

Valid passport (with UK residence permit if applicable);

 

EU member state identity card;

 

Current UK or EU photocard driving licence;

 

Armed Forces ID card.

 

To confirm address (dated within the last 3 months, unless otherwise specified):

 

Electoral register confirmation;

 

Recent utility bill or bank/mortgage statement;

 

Local authority rates or council tax bill;

 

UK driving licence (only if not used for ID);

 

Local council rent card or tenancy agreement.

 

Pooled Funds

The anti-money laundering guidance that UK banks and financial service firms must follow is issued by the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG).

 

Under this guidance, banks are not required to routinely identify the beneficial owners of law firms’ pooled client accounts as they do with most other accounts, provided that such information is available upon request.

 

In the event our bank requests details about the beneficial owners of our pooled client account, you agree that we may disclose your information to them. You also agree to promptly provide any further information or verification documents required to identify the owners of funds held by us.

 

Data Protection and GDPR Privacy Notice

We collect and use your information primarily to provide legal services and for related purposes including:

 

Updating and maintaining client records;

 

Practice management and analysis;

 

Statutory reporting;

 

Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

 

Our processing of your data complies with your instructions, the Data Protection Act 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and our professional duty of confidentiality.

 

Your details are securely held in our database, and we may occasionally send you information that may be of interest. If you do not wish to receive such communications, please inform us in writing. We do not share your information with third-party marketers.

 

If you are an individual, you have the right under data protection law to request access to the data we hold about you and to ask for its correction or deletion. Please contact our Data Protection Officer, Eve Wilson, for any such requests or queries.

 

Handling Your Personal Data

Your data will be handled by the fee earner assigned to your matter, their secretary, and any assisting legal staff.

 

Your personal data will remain confidential and will be used only for identification checks, communication throughout your matter, and to facilitate financial transactions.

 

Processing your personal data is necessary for the legitimate interests of the firm or third parties, except where overridden by your rights or freedoms (e.g., if you are a child).

 

We may need to share your data with third parties involved in your matter, such as other law firms, government departments (including HMRC), the Land Registry, or IT service providers.

 

Fair and Transparent Processing

Your personal data will not be retained longer than necessary to fulfill legal and regulatory obligations.

 

By signing the client care documentation, you consent to our processing of your data as described.

 

You have the right to request access to, correction or deletion of, and restriction or objection to processing of your data.

 

You also have the right to data portability and to raise concerns with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

 

By accepting these Terms of Business, you consent to the provision and use of your personal data accordingly.

 

Confidentiality and Disclosure

We have a strict duty of confidentiality. Subject to data protection laws and this duty, your personal data may be shared with:

 

Third parties assisting us in providing legal services;

 

Service providers, professional advisors, and auditors;

 

Fraud prevention, reference, and debt collection agencies;

 

Government bodies and regulatory authorities in the UK and overseas;

 

Courts and parties connected with your matter;

 

Anyone with your consent or as required by law.

 

Disclosure may also occur:

 

In emergencies or to protect your vital interests;

 

To protect the security or integrity of our business operations.

 

All external parties are required to maintain confidentiality.

 

Our client files are stored on the LEAP cloud platform, hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS), which complies with international data protection standards including GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

 

Monitoring Communications

We keep records of all communications with you—including calls, emails, letters, texts, and social media messages—for regulatory compliance, crime prevention, quality control, and training purposes. This ensures accurate records in case of any disputes or inquiries.

 

Storage of Documents

We may retain your papers and documents while there are outstanding costs or disbursements owed.

 

File retention periods depend on the type of matter. For example, conveyancing purchase files are typically retained for seven years, and sale files for six years. If the purchased property is sold within seven years, the purchase file will be destroyed six years after the sale.

 

You may request extended retention by instructing us accordingly.

 

After the retention period, files will be destroyed.

 

You are responsible for diarising any time limits (such as rent review or lease break notice dates) after a matter concludes unless otherwise agreed.

 

We do not undertake responsibility for advising on future legal changes.

 

Retrieval of stored papers is usually free, but we may charge for time spent reviewing and working on those files.

 

Documents placed in safe custody will not be destroyed by us.

 

Professional Indemnity Insurance

We maintain professional indemnity insurance as required by law. Our current insurer is QBE UK. Details of our insurance, including specified exclusions (such as punitive damages awarded under US or Canadian law), are available upon request.

 

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Although we are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide investment advice, we can refer you to authorised advisors. We may provide limited investment-related services closely linked to our legal work, regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Property Transactions

Property Inspection

We do not carry out physical inspections of properties as part of our service. If you require us to inspect the property for any reason, please make a specific request. Please note that Wilson Law reserves the right to charge an additional fee for such inspections. We do not advise on the property’s valuation, mortgage suitability, or other financial arrangements.

 

Local Authority Searches

Local authority searches cover only the land you are buying or mortgaging. They do not include neighbouring properties or wider areas unless specifically requested.

 

Planning and Environmental Advice

We will not provide advice on planning implications beyond reporting relevant information contained in the local search results, unless you specifically request otherwise.

We do not advise on environmental liabilities and assume you will make your own arrangements for any environmental investigations. Occasionally, we may obtain an environmental search on your behalf or your lender’s. We will not provide advice on land contamination unless you request this specifically.

 

Chancel Repair Liability

If you believe the property may be located within a Church of England parish with potential chancel repair liability, please inform us so we can arrange the appropriate search.

 

Search Results

We provide only the raw results of searches conducted and are not qualified to advise on non-legal findings.

 

Mortgage Fraud Prevention

To protect lenders against mortgage fraud, all purchase funds (including deposits) must be paid through our client account and not transferred directly to the seller. We are also required to report any incentives or allowances offered by the seller to your lender.

 

Disclosure Authorization

By signing this Client Care and Terms of Business, you authorise us to disclose information related to your transaction—including sales, mortgages, financial arrangements, and key dates—to other parties involved in the transaction, including agents and advisers in any linked chain of transactions.

 

Acting for Your Lender

If we act for your lender in the transaction, we must fully disclose to them all relevant facts about you, the purchase, and the mortgage. This includes any discrepancies between the mortgage application and information provided to us, as well as any cashback or discount schemes offered by the seller.

Should a conflict of interest arise, we may need to cease acting for your lender, and in some cases, for you as well.

 

Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS)

Wilson Law is accredited under the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), which sets a recognised standard for residential conveyancing. We commit to:

 

Fulfilling our duties to you and your lender;

 

Preventing fraud in conveyancing;

 

Acting fairly and honestly with all parties, including sharing relevant information;

 

Responding to other parties within agreed timeframes.

 

Client files may be audited periodically under strict controls by qualified individuals. By accepting our terms, you consent to compliance with the Law Society Conveyancing Protocol, including disclosure of your file for audit purposes. You may withdraw this consent in writing at any time.

 

Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

We have no expertise in the financial health of banks. We assume that banks authorised to operate are capable of meeting their obligations.

We accept no liability if the bank holding our client account becomes insolvent. You may be eligible for compensation through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

You consent to us disclosing your details to FSCS to assist with any claim.

Our client funds are currently held with Lloyds Bank Plc. The FSCS compensation limit is £85,000 per client, which includes any personal accounts you hold with the same bank.

 

Referral Arrangements

We may pay referral fees for work referred to us. You will be informed in writing if this occurs and of any fees paid. Our advice to you will remain independent and confidential.

You are not obliged to accept our services if you are referred and may raise questions freely. We do not act for referrers in relation to your transaction.

 

Recovering Legal Costs and Disbursements

If a court orders another party to pay your legal costs, you must first pay these costs. Any recovered amounts will be repaid to you.

VAT on costs may not be recoverable from the other party if you can claim it yourself.

Legal aid recipients are unlikely to have costs recovered.

Interest on costs awarded by the court may be claimed and paid to you.

You will be responsible for costs incurred to recover awarded sums.

Unsuccessful clients may be ordered to pay the other party’s legal costs in addition to our fees. Insurance to cover this liability may be available—please ask if interested.

 

Terminating the Retainer

You may end your instructions to us at any time in writing. We may retain your papers while costs remain unpaid.

We will only stop acting for you for good reason and with reasonable notice, including:

 

Repeated failure to respond to instructions or information requests;

 

Failure to comply with anti-money laundering requirements;

 

Failure to pay requested costs;

 

Conflict of interest;

 

Rude or abusive behaviour towards staff.

 

If we cease acting, you remain liable for fees up to that point, calculated proportionally.

 

Distance Selling and Cancellation Rights

If we have not met you in person and the contract is formed remotely (by phone, mail, email, or online) or off-premises (e.g., meeting at your home) on or after 14 June 2014, you have the right to cancel within 14 calendar days without giving a reason.

 

To cancel, notify us by clear statement (letter, email, fax). We will acknowledge promptly.

If you want us to start work during the cancellation period, you must agree in writing. If you later cancel, you will be liable for costs incurred up to cancellation.

 

Insurance Advice

We are not authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) but are registered to carry out insurance mediation regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Complaints are handled by the Legal Ombudsman. Further information is available at www.fsa.gov.uk/register.

 

Continuing Instructions

Unless otherwise agreed, these Terms apply to any future instructions you give us.

We may require your signed acceptance before commencing work.

 

Next Steps

Read these Terms and Conditions carefully.

 

Sign and return the declaration in the Client Care and Terms of Business document specific to your matter.

 

Provide the identification documents required for anti-money laundering checks.

 

Make any payment on account of costs as requested.

 

Complete and return any other requested forms or documents.