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Last night, the iconic Jam House in Birmingham was abuzz with excitement as OneSearch and Ladies of Law co-hosted a memorable networking event in celebration of International Women’s Day 2025.

The evening, which also commemorated the one-year anniversary of the partnership between OneSearch and Ladies of Law, was a resounding success, bringing together an incredible group of professionals to honour the remarkable achievements of women in the legal industry.

Claire Slade, one of the organisers of the event, said: “The evening was a true celebration of the strength, resilience, and achievements of women in the legal industry. To see the attendees making such valuable connections with peers at all stages of their careers was fantastic. We hope everyone left feeling left feeling inspired and empowered!”

One of the highlights of the evening was an inspiring talk from Alice Kinder, who spoke to the attendees about her personal journey and professional achievements, as well as the importance of proactivity and seizing opportunities, self-determination in shaping one’s career and life, and the need for the legal profession to evolve with the world, promoting diversity and inclusion.

Ella Watts, founder of Ladies of Law said after the event: “It was a wonderful evening. You could see the connections being made through networking, lots of people came on their own which was lovely to see!”

We at OneSearch are grateful to everyone who attended and made this event such a success. It was a magical evening, and we look forward to many more opportunities to celebrate and support the incredible women in our community. Here’s to many more years of partnership and celebration!

Let us leave you with this section from Alice Kinder’s talk:

“This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, Accelerate Action, is a powerful reminder that progress doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when we work together to push forward, open doors for others, and create space for those coming up behind us. As an employment lawyer, I see the workplace changing every day, but there is so much more to be done. Progress requires intention. It requires us to champion fairness, advocate for inclusion, and stand firm in the face of inequality.“
– Alice Kinder

We have been made aware of an increase in costs from our supplier Groundsure. This increase has meant a selection of products available via OneSearch will be subject to a price update, effective the 1st April 2025.

If you are currently a OneSearch customer, your account manager will be in contact with you soon to discuss the specific increases, as well as advise about alternative products available. Alternatively you can get in touch with us and we will be more than happy to assist you.

The property transaction process is a complex jigsaw puzzle involving multiple pieces – conveyancers, estate agents, lenders, surveyors, and, of course, the buyers and sellers themselves. Typically, these groups have often operated in silos, with communication barriers and information gaps hindering efficiency and causing frustration for everyone involved.

However, there’s a growing recognition that breaking down these silos and fostering a collaborative approach is crucial for streamlining transactions, reducing stress, and improving the overall experience for all involved. When asked what would make the biggest positive impact to their productivity and business success, 43% of responders to Landmark’s recent market research suggested that less chasing between stakeholders was top of their list of requests, as well as greater transactional visibility (29%).

So, what are the first steps? Understanding the issue at hand is the first jigsaw piece.

Silos: the unwavering obstacle in property transactions

There are several headaches that could potentially occur when all parties involved in a property transaction work in isolation from each other:

Communication breakdowns: Information gets lost in translation, leading to misunderstandings, delays, and errors. Sometimes key knowledge may only be known by one person, leaving transactions susceptible to annual leave, sickness, or departures.

Duplication of effort: Different parties may end up requesting the same information or performing the same tasks, wasting time and resources.

Lack of transparency: Buyers and sellers may end up left in the dark about the progress of their transaction, leading to stress and frustration.

Increased risk: Without a clear overview of the entire process, potential risks and issues may be missed or addressed too late.

Elizabeth Jarvis, Managing Director of OneSearch echoed this point in a recent industry roundtable discussion: “One of the biggest frustrations [in the industry] that is wasting time really is chasing one another through all different parts of the process.”

“I wonder why it has taken a really long time,” Elizabeth continued, “It feels like the thing that we’ve never really been able to solve is this transparency or ability to see what other people are doing, putting information in a central place where everyone can access it together instead of it being phone calls and emails.”

The recent survey highlighted these issues, with 53% of responders listing the length of time it takes to complete a transaction as the biggest frustration, with poor communication (31%) not far behind.

The Benefits of Collaboration

In contrast, a collaborative approach to property transactions offers numerous advantages:

Streamlined communication: A centralised platform or system allows for seamless information sharing between all parties, reducing delays and preventing miscommunications.

Increased efficiency: By working together, parties can avoid duplication of effort, optimise workflows, and accelerate the transaction process.

Improved transparency: Clients have a clear view of the progress of their transaction, reducing stress and building trust, without too much of a bombardment of communications.

Reduced risk: A collaborative approach allows for early identification and mitigation of potential risks, ensuring a smoother and more secure transaction.

Enhanced client satisfaction: A more efficient, transparent, and collaborative process leads to a better overall experience for buyers and sellers.

Technology at the heart of progress

Technology plays a crucial role in facilitating collaboration in property transactions. Digital platforms and tools can:

Create a central hub: Provide a single source of truth for all transaction-related information, accessible to all parties.

Automate tasks: Reduce manual effort and streamline workflows, freeing up time for more valuable activities. This includes checking of potentially incomplete documents, so that time isn’t wasted when this is discovered weeks after uploading.

Facilitate communication: Enable real-time communication and collaboration between parties, regardless of location.

Enhance transparency: Provide clients with online access to their transaction documents and progress updates.

Rob Steadman, Sales Director within Landmark Information Group, who also participated in the roundtable, noted that future offerings from Landmark were placed to be an ideal solution.

“There’s potentially new things that [Landmark] are bringing to the market, which is harnessing the power of AI. The fact that we touch across the whole property ecosystem so that gives us a really good insight into transactions”

“We’re excited really with the position that we’re in…almost to have a vault that’s very clear, very secure.”

The Role of Conveyancers in Driving Collaboration

Conveyancers are uniquely positioned to champion collaboration in property transactions. They act as a central point of contact for various stakeholders and have a vested interest in ensuring a smooth and efficient process, such as:

Advocate for technology adoption: Encourage the use of digital platforms and tools that facilitate collaboration.

Promote open communication: Establish clear communication channels and protocols with other parties.

Educate clients: Explain the benefits of a collaborative approach and encourage client participation.

Build strong relationships: Foster trust and mutual understanding with estate agents, lenders, and other stakeholders.

Breaking down silos and fostering collaboration is not just beneficial – it’s essential. By embracing technology, improving communication, and working together, all stakeholders can contribute to a more efficient, transparent, and client-centric process.

The individuals within the conveyancing sector have a key role to play in driving this change. By championing collaboration, conveyancers can enhance their own expertise, improve client satisfaction, and contribute to a more streamlined and efficient property market.

The conveyancing sector is facing a perfect storm of challenges as 2025 gets up to full speed. Regulatory burdens and economic uncertainty, to the rise of AI and automation, all whilst battling clients demands and expectations; it’s a complex industry landscape, perhaps more so than ever before.

However, amongst these challenges, a spirit of resilience and proactivity is emerging. Conveyancers are taking control of the controllables; embracing innovation and seeking solutions to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

This shift in mindset is evident in the recent market research from Landmark Information Group. Over half of responders (52%) are now taking matters into their own hands by assigning workloads more effectively, while 34% are digitising more processes. Proactively sourcing new business and investing in improved training are also high on responders 2025 priorities.

What Tech Can Do For You

Understanding and integrating new technology can be a daunting task for conveyancing firms, especially with the rapid pace of recent advancements.

“Everybody’s grappling with the fact that the technological capabilities [in conveyancing] are accelerating at such a pace,” admitted Rob Steadman, Sales Director within Landmark Information Group.

“If you deploy AI today, tomorrow there’s almost like the next better version of AI to change it.”

Liz Jarvis, Managing Director of OneSearch highlights the need for dedicated education and training: “There’s an assumption by a lot of people that there’s all this information out there about tech, prop tech, and AI technology, and how it can help your firm. But actually, I don’t think that that’s fully translated into how it can be adopted.

“I think conveyancers and others doing this role, they actually need a lot more information about what that can do [for them] specifically, rather than big noise of a release of this technology. What does it mean to me and to my firm? How long will it take me? How long and what cost will it take for this to embed in my business?

“There’s the worry, what if I invest this money now? Is it obsolete in 12 months’ time?”

The feels are reflected in the market research; 62% of respondents listed the knowledge gap within their team as an aspect which has challenged progress, as well as the slow pace of change towards a digital outlook (62%).

Collaboration and Communication: Bridging the Gaps

Another key theme for 2025 is the need for improved communication and collaboration among all stakeholders in the property transaction process. Participants highlighted the frustration caused by chasing information and the lack of transparency in the system.

Liz Jarvis continued along this point: “One of the biggest frustrations and things that is wasting time really is that chasing one another through all different parts of the process whether it would be a surveyor, an estate agent, the other side of the transaction, the purchaser or the vendor.

“I wonder why it’s taken a really long time. It feels like the thing we’ve never really been able to solve is this transparency or ability to see what other people are doing, putting information in a central place where everyone can access it together instead of it being phone calls and email.”

This desire for greater transparency and collaboration points to the need for solutions that can bring all stakeholders together in a central hub, providing a single source of truth and facilitating seamless information sharing.

Looking Ahead: A Call for Bold Leadership and Continued Innovation

The recent market research from Landmark paints a picture of a sector that is facing challenges head-on, embracing innovation, and actively seeking solutions to improve efficiency and client experience. Conveyancers are taking control, demanding more from technology providers, and prioritising collaboration and communication.

Moving forward, direction and continued innovation will be crucial. As Rob Steadman emphasised, “It’s going to come down to bold leadership across the sector to be clearly heard as to what their priorities are.”

By working together, conveyancers, technology providers, and other stakeholders can create a more efficient, transparent, and client-centric property transaction process. The challenges are real, but the opportunities are even greater.

The Landmark 2024 residential conveyancing survey tells a ‘tale of two halves’. One is about hope for economic stability as we enter autumn with listings and sales volumes rising, and interest rates falling. The other is about how conveyancers are still struggling with slow transaction times, insufficient resources, and general lack of transparency. For more details, be sure to download the market research results today.

OneSearch is delighted to co-host a unique networking event celebrating not only International Women’s Day 2025, but also our one-year partnership with our close friends at Ladies of Law!

Located at the iconic Jam House in Birmingham, this event will present an opportunity to celebrate women in law and the incredible achievements of our community.

Join us on 6th March from 6:00 – 8:30pm as we come together to celebrate women in law and their amazing achievements. This will be an incredible opportunity to network with professionals at all stages of their careers, exchange ideas, and celebrate the remarkable contributions of women in the legal industry.

What to Expect:

A welcome drink to kick things off
Delicious food to enjoy
Live music to follow if you decide to stay and keep the celebration going!
Inspiring talks from inspiring women

Claire Slade, Business Development Manager at OneSearch said: “We are incredibly excited to celebrate International Women’s Day and our one-year partnership with Ladies of Law. This event will definitely be a massive testament to the strength and achievements of women in the legal industry, and we look forward to an evening of inspiration, connection, and celebration.”

Ella Watts, the founder of Ladies of Law, added: “We cannot wait for this networking event, which will be our first of the year, and our first in Birmingham. Any opportunity to bring together an amazing group of professionals is reason enough to celebrate, but to have it the week of International Women’s Day, as we also commemorate one year of partnering with OneSearch makes it even more special. This event will be all about recognising the incredible contributions of women in law and fostering a supportive community where we can all thrive.”

It’s going to be a magical evening, and we’d love for you to be part of it. Tickets will be limited, so make sure you don’t miss out!

Get Your Tickets Now!