A Scottish law firm that developed a unique Web-based e-conveyancing solution enabling users to conduct end-to-end transactions on-line is working to take the service to solicitors in England and Wales.

Dunfermline-based Peddie Smith Maloco (PSM) has been trialling Transact Direct - a pay-as-you-go system that acts as a 'virtual room' for parties to a conveyance - with legal technology specialists Visualfiles since last year.

PSM now also uses the system, which is based on Progress OpenEdge technology, in its Wakefield branch.

The secure system automatically generates one action from the previous one - for example, it will request searches that activate the next stage of the process when the search company places a report on the system.

Parties are notified by e-mail when each stage is completed and can track the progress of their transaction on-line by accessing virtual files and reports.

Paula Rohan