Beyond legal advice: our network of best-in-class professionals

Clients come to Farrer & Co for market-leading legal advice, a first-class service, and deal certainty. In this month’s edition of The Brief, we discuss a recent purchase in which a US-based client agreed with their seller to conduct the transaction in US dollars, click here read. While that transaction was highly unusual and shielded our client from currency risk, what is more usual is for us to transfer purchase monies via one of the very good FX brokers we know, who can ensure that our clients get the best available rate at the time of bringing their money into the UK.

Part of our commitment to providing excellent client service is making introductions to the best professionals in our network to ensure a transaction proceeds smoothly. It is important to say at the outset that we never receive referral fees of any kind. We will only pass on details of those that we work with regularly and who have a proven track record of delivering the level of service our clients have come to expect.

Here are some of the key team members we might introduce:

Mortgage brokers

Whether a client requires finance to facilitate their purchase or to mitigate their inheritance tax liability, the mortgage brokers we work with will scour the market for the best available rate on terms that suit the client’s profile and needs, and will respond to a changing market instantly. We often find that these brokers can negotiate improved terms beyond the typical market, or secure financing for clients who have found their circumstances – whether personal or property related – have previously made obtaining debt difficult.

Buying agents

Often, clients will come to us via a buying agent, or with an engagement already in place for a search. However, overseas clients may be assembling their team for a purchase and need a search agent to start the process before they fly over for a weekend tour, or because they are struggling to secure the right property. We work with the best in the industry and always aim to make the right introduction, considering both the type of property the client is seeking, and the relationship dynamic.

Selling agents

When we have purchased a property that a client now wishes to sell, they may ask us to introduce them to a selling agent before instructing us on the sale. Often, this will be the best selling agent in the property’s particular area, or an agent whose working style we know will suit our client well. Our Private Client team will also defer to us when a selling agent needs to be appointed on a probate sale.

Building surveyors

First-class legal work is only half the story in a property purchase: every client needs a top-tier surveyor. Their value-add is in much more than simply spotting defects and delivering a strongly caveated list of items that need attention. Those we work with can inspect quickly and report within a matter of days or even hours where the transaction demands it (for example, on a 48-hour exchange). They need to have sufficient Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance, but also contribute during the transaction – by walking boundaries, providing a detailed planning or listed building consent review, and giving estimates for required repairs so the client knows what they are in for, or even to support a renegotiation. Where a building is listed, a client might also ask us to refer them to a heritage consultant, to advise on works that have been carried out, or a project the client has in mind.

Tax advice

For an average Farrers client, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) will only be part of the story. As a full-service firm with an industry-leading Private Client and Tax department, we can provide advice for any client whose circumstances may demand complex structuring or involve cross-border considerations. However, there are occasions where external tax advice can also be beneficial, and the accountants and tax practitioners we work with are recognised leaders in their field – some of whom quite literally wrote the book on their specialty.

Insurance brokers

In a fast-moving transaction, buildings insurance is often one of the items that gets left to the last minute. Our advice to the client is always to explore this as early as possible, to ensure they can get cover for their house (and their jewellery, art, or classic car collection as well) on the best possible terms. When we are working against the clock, however, the brokers we work with can arrange cover in a matter of hours – even at 7pm on a Friday when the rest of the insurance market has gone home for the weekend. This ensures the deal can still happen and the client has peace of mind that they are properly covered.

Overseas counsel

While the landscape of property ownership has changed a great deal in the past decade, we do still encounter properties held in overseas companies, or transactions with an overseas nexus. We have close relationships with best-in-class firms that can provide expert advice swiftly and cost-effectively, and ultimately ensure the deal can happen.

Architects, interior designers and project managers

For our clients, the deal isn’t done on completion day. We remain on hand as they assemble a project team, and advise them throughout their journey to turn their new asset into a dream home. Of course, we regularly provide legal advice in respect of a licence for alterations, planning and construction contracts, but our clients also need other experts to provide and deliver the creative vision for their property. We work with cutting-edge architects, interior designers, project managers and landscape gardeners to suit any client’s style, and often arrange beauty parades to ensure our client finds the perfect fit for their plans.

Private banks and wealth managers

Sometimes, international clients relocating to the UK, or UK-based clients working through a significant life moment, such as a divorce, need to establish a whole host of professional relationships, which can include new banking arrangements. We are happy to make introductions to the large number of private banks, bankers and wealth managers that we know and work with regularly.

As this article illustrates, we are always delighted to open our black book of contacts for our clients. Of course, often the most important introductions we make are not directly related to a property transaction but to our excellent colleagues around the firm who can provide the full suite of legal services.

This publication is a general summary of the law. It should not replace legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

© Farrer & Co LLP, May 2025