Countrywide at the double as it unveils 3m bid to unlock conveyancing riches

Countrywide Property Lawyers - the network of solicitors and licensed conveyancers which formerly operated under the Hambro name - is to invest more than 3 million in a drive to double its share of the conveyancing market over the next three years.

The announcement comes hard on the heels of the news last week that bulk conveyancing law firm Marsons has quit the market because it believes the factory conveyancing concept neither works for the client nor makes any money (see [2001] Gazette, January 5, 1).Countrywide Property Lawyers, which is part of the group which owns the country's largest chain of estate agents, hopes that the investment of 3.25 million will increase its conveyancing transactions from 30,000 each year to more than 60,000 - giving it more than 10% of the market.

IT Consultants Cap Gemini Ernst & Young will assist Countrywide in re-engineering and streamlining its conveyancing processes, using technology that has been applied to the banking and manufacturing sectors.They aim to help the company attract new customers throughe-commerce via the Internet and mobile phones.

Countrywide was formed in alliance with Surrey law firm EDC Lord & Co, and national firms Shoosmiths and Eversheds.

Buyers were referred to these firms when Countrywide was acting for the seller.

However, only the alliance with Shoosmiths remains in place.

In 1999, Countrywide bought up two offices of EDC Lord.

The company now employs 420 staff - including solicitors, licensed conveyancers and support staff - spread across its offices in Brentwood, Cardiff, Manchester, Northampton and Woking.

Managing director Stephen Ambler said that, as part of the strategy, a further office will open within 18 months, employing up to 100 additional staff.

In relation to the competition that solicitors would face as a result of the strategy, he said: 'There will still be many more transactions out in the market.'He said the company was looking to build relationships with local solicitors firms similar to the continuing alliance with Shoosmiths.Regarding the closure of Marsons' bulk conveyancing, he said: 'I totally refute that there is no bulk market left...

we are investing in it precisely because it works.' Jeremy Fleming