CONVEYANCING: Home lawyers can deal directly with registration of land in divorce cases


An English law firm claimed a victory over the French this week, as it won the right to conduct a property transfer in France 'for the first time since the French revolution in 1789'.



London firm Sykes Anderson received confirmation from the French Ministry of Justice that it can deal directly with the registration of land in divorce cases, breaking the monopoly of the French notaires.



Traditionally, notaires have been able to close English solicitors out of the French conveyancing market because their status as government employees (they collect taxes on behalf of the French government) has allowed them to avoid European competition rules.



However, the French Justice Ministry has now confirmed that, where a property is being transferred as a result of an English divorce order, this can be done by an English solicitor.



The change presents lucrative opportunities for UK lawyers acting for the huge number of British people living in France. Notaires charge a fixed fee of 1% of a property's value, offering solicitors the opportunity to undercut their French rivals.



Sykes Anderson founding partner David Anderson said: 'This is the first time an English solicitor has broken the notaire's monopoly. The French have been totally protectionist.



'It is of limited scope, but I believe it is the thin end of the wedge. It means we can get experience of dealing with the French land registry. There are 500,000 British in France, which will mean a large number of divorce transactions, and properties on the Cote d'Azur can sell for €10 to 20 million (£8 to £16 million). We want to exploit the top end of the market.'



Rachel Rothwell