Howells was recently featured in the most recent edition of Wales Business Insider. In a piece written by Geoff Wright about the rising confidence of property investors in Wales, Mark Hobbs, Managing Partner of Howells, provided his opinion on the sector. 

The article documented the large increase in businesses and individuals looking to invest in the Welsh property market over the previous 6 months. In particular, industrial units are proving popular with investors while increasing amounts of people are choosing to invest in land. Many people are also targeting property to be used by government departments, utility companies and housing associations. 

What’s more, with the property market in London and the South East already looking buoyant, and because it’s possible to buy buildings for less than they cost to build in some areas, other experts are anticipating that growth will spread across the country.

In the article, Mark agrees the sector is doing well with large transactions occurring in the last 6 months but stresses that investors still need to take a long-term perspective when they’re looking at commercial property.

He added: “There is an appetite to spend. The banks are more willing to lend and some properties are being bought off-plan. If people want something, the ability to do a deal is there, especially if the price and location are right.

“Investors must look long term. Don’t just assume that property is a hot ticket for capital growth. You must look out for environmental factors, red tape and changing building regulations.”

Read the article in full here -Wales Business Insider.jpg (1.13 mb)

Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or leasing commercial property, our expert property team at Howells can help. With extensive local property knowledge and decades of legal experience, we’re on hand to ensure your experience is as smooth as possible. Call us today on 02920 404027, email commercial@howellslegal.com or fill out our online enquiry form.

by Tristan Lewis

Howells Solicitors has completed the sale of the first property in Wales to be purchased using the recently launched Government backed Help to Buy scheme.
 
The conveyancing department in the Swansea office of the award-winning law firm were instructed by Sian Jones on the purchase of a two bedroom apartment on the Persimmon Coed Darcy development near Neath.
 
Due to this being the first Help to Buy purchase in Wales, Philip Howell, founder partner of the law firm personally managed the case and worked with the Help to Buy co-ordinators throughout the process. It took just 20 working days from instruction to completion and all parties liaised together to ensure the quick and seamless transaction.
 

Commenting on the case, Philip Howell said, “It was a learning process for all parties involved. A couple of minor glitches were quickly resolved resulting in the swift 20 day completion. We have completed another Help to Buy case since and have others at various stages of the conveyancing process across our network of South Wales offices.”

The Help to Buy scheme, launched in October, helps anyone in the UK to buy a home up to the value of £600,000 with just a 5% deposit. The government aim to incentivise mortgage providers to lend by guaranteeing 15% of the home loan to them.

For more information about the Help to Buy scheme, and whether it’s the right one for you, take a look at our guide to Help To Buy.

If you’re hoping to purchase your own home using Help to Buy, talk to Howells Solicitors today. Call 0808 178 2773 or visit our residential conveyancing page.

by Tristan Lewis

Howells Solicitors has recruited more conveyancing experts and support staff to its property team as it reports continued activity in the housing market.

Experienced Chartered Legal Executive Sharon Thomas and solicitor Elise Stark have joined Howells Solicitors’ growing ranks as house sale completions continue to rise. The firm has also offered four training contracts to existing staff members who will be assisting in the conveyancing teams and Howells have also built strong relationships with the University of South Wales and recruited five graduates who recently completed the University’s Legal Practice Course.

After a couple of years of stagnation, the South Wales market is starting to move. Mark Hobbs, managing partner at Howells said, “At the beginning of 2013 the housing market remained a little fragile but there can be little doubt that by the end of the year it turned out to be a lot better than many in our sector expected.”

“It’s already been a brisk start to the year and the signs are all positive that this will continue in 2014. The Welsh property market won’t grow as quickly as it has in the London and the South East but it is moving again which is good news.”

He also added, “Should the recent launch of the Help To Buy scheme in Wales have the same impact as the similar scheme across the border, it will have a positive effect on the market. It is still early days but listening to clients and Estate Agents it has been well received.”

Sharon Thomas will be based in the law firms’ Cardiff head office and Elise Stark in the Caerphilly office. Both will be continuing to develop the already strong client base with local and national estate agents, the national house builders and private buyers.
 
Sharon said of her appointment and the opportunities it presents, “I was very pleased to be offered the position. The company was recognised at the end of last as being one of the best conveyancing firms in the UK. Their long term development plans are exciting and will provide me with an opportunity to utilise my professional skills and expertise to help Howells achieve their objectives.”

Howells Solicitors are expanding to an already formidable team as they were recently presented with the Bronze Award in the Best Large Conveyancer category of the Estate Agency of the Year. Managing partner Mark Hobbs and Business Development Manager Tristan Lewis received the award from TV presenter Penny Smith UK at the Estate Agents equivalent of the Oscar’s hosted at The Lancaster Hotel in London.

by Tristan Lewis

A recently-qualified nurse has won a Howells competition and moved into her first house without having to pay any conveyancing fees.

Emily Kitt, who grew up in Carmarthenshire, won the competition after giving our panel judges the most ‘compelling and worthy’ reason to benefit from the free service. Since qualifying as a mental nurse, Emily has been staying with her Grandmother in Glyngaer, Caerphilly and helping her care for her Grandfather who suffers from Alzheimer’s.

She won the prize after explaining on Facebook that her new house would allow her time to be close to her Grandparents and her place of work. The location of her new house – a two-bedroom property in Beddau, Pontypridd – means that she can still help to care for her Grandfather and cope with the disturbed sleep patterns that are often inherent in Alzheimer’s cases as well as take shopping to her Grandparents.

Emily said: “We’re a very close family. I want to carry on spending the time with my Grandparents, and helping them as well as have my independence and remain close to work.

“I’ve been saving to buy my own house and had an offer accepted on a two bed property in Beddau, Pontypridd. When I saw the Howells competition on Facebook, I thought I’d enter and was delighted when they got in touch to say that I had won.

“The money I’ll be saving on conveyancing fees will be used to buy some furniture for my new house.”
Andrea Coombes, Partner and Office Manager of the Howells Talbot Green office, has been conducting the conveyancing on behalf of Emily.

She said: “Emily is such a deserving winner of our competition. When we read her entry and learnt about what she does for her grandparents whilst working as a nurse we were really impressed. 

“We’re close to completion on the purchase of Emily’s first house and expect her to be in it for Easter and her new start.”

Want to find out more about our residential conveyancing service? If you’re thinking about buying a house in South Wales, speak to experts at Howells Solicitors today. Call us free on 0808 178 2773 today or enter your details online. 

by Tristan Lewis

We’re delighted to have strengthened the conveyancing team in our Newport office with the appointment of experienced solicitor Sarah Beynon-Williams.

Sarah has joined our expanding Newport conveyancing team to work with existing clients and manage the new contracts we’ve recently won with local and national panels.

Moving to Howells from another legal practice in South Wales, Sarah has previously managed busy departments and has extensive conveyancing experience.

Sarah is looking forward to her new role. She said: “In my previous position, I was responsible for the growth and development of two departments within the practice.

“My new role will enable me to use the skills I have developed with regards to new business development, as well as managing and maintaining the strong relationships Howells have with independent and regional estate agents in the area. Their focus on providing a personal service is appealing to me.”

Mark Hobbs, Managing Partner at Howells Solicitors, recognised the need to recruit a conveyancing professional of Sarah’s calibre. He said, “We are growing as a company and delighted to welcome Sarah to Howells to add her expertise and experience to the team.

Residential conveyancing is a particularly strong department within the firm and we recently won the Bronze Award in the Best Large Conveyancer category of the UK Estate Agency of the Year. It is vital that we manage our growth by investing in the right people to maintain customer service standards as the number of cases we deal with increases”.

To speak with our conveyancing department today, give us a call on 02920 404020 or email info@howellslegal.com. 

by Tristan Lewis

Howells Solicitors has been named has been named UK Family Law Firm of the Year by Corporate LiveWire in its 2014 Global Awards.

Presented annually, the awards honour the businesses, finance firms and professionals that stand out as leaders in their respective fields and show best practice and innovation in their work. 

In presiding over the awards, the judges assessed how the legal professionals in Howells’ family law department managed complex cases over the last 12 months. These included several multi-million pound financial proceedings involving overseas properties and large company valuations as well as children law matters.

Richard Scott, Partner in Howells’s Family Law department, said:

"We are delighted to be named as UK Family Law Firm of the Year by Corporate LiveWire.

“This is the first time a Welsh law firm has been awarded this accolade and it recognises the skills and expertise of our team in comparison with law firms across the UK.”

To speak to award-winning solicitors at Howells about any aspect of family law, speak to us today. Simply call 02920 404014 or email info@howellslegal.com.

by Tristan Lewis

Howells Solicitors was recently delighted to have the honour of sponsoring the fifth annual Future Entrepreneur Awards to celebrate the success of some of Cardiff’s brightest young business brains.

Howells are dedicated sponsors of the awards having taken part for the past 3 award ceremonies and form part of the Future Entrepreneur Awards judging panel.

The event, presented by the University of Glamorgan and Cardiff Vale and College, and held at Cardiff City’s Hall, hosted the great and good of Cardiff’s media and business communities.

The winner of the Best Bright Idea and the Overall Best Enterprise award was LJM Photography, run by Lisa-Jane Meates, pictured above. After graduating from the Photography for Fashion & Advertising degree at the University in 2012, Lisa-Jane decided to start her own fashion and wedding photography business.The awards were established by the University of Glamorgan in 2009 to encourage entrepreneurship and enterprise among the university students and graduates in Wales. The deserving winners were the recipients of the much coveted Future Entrepreneur Award trophy along with a cheque for £1,000.

Representing Howells Solicitors, Wendy Hobbs presented the award for Best Fashion Enterprise which went to Moonstone Boutique, run by Fashion Design graduates Rowan Parker and Charlotte Molyneux, pictured above. While studying at the University’s City Campus in Newport, the students came up with the idea of running their own fashion store to sell bespoke evening gowns for beauty pageants and proms.

Moonstone Boutique was launched as an online shop in October last year, and has more recently branched into selling wedding and bridesmaids dresses. Rowan, from Aberdare, and Charlotte, from Caerphilly, have also benefited from financial support through the University’s Bright Ideas scheme, which helps students and graduates to start their own business.

Mark Hobbs, managing partner at Howells, said: “As a firm we are delighted to support the Future Entrepreneur Awards which recognise and reward entrepreneurial spirit in today’s youth. The night was a major success we were delighted to be able to help.”

Read more about the event here.

by Tristan Lewis

Karis Jones, solicitor, with Andrew Sims, administration and project support, Recovery Cymru meeting with a Recovery Cymru member.

Howells Solicitors will be providing their legal expertise free of charge to members of recovery Cymru, a self help, mutual support community for people recovering from drug and alcohol problems in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Karis Jones, solicitor, a family law specialist from Howells Solicitors will be attending the Cowbridge Road East office of the not for profit organisation every other month to meet members seeking legal advice regarding children matters.

Due to the significant changes in Legal Aid funding and the quality of advice being provided, the first clinic earlier this month proved to be very popular. Karis explains: “When we were approached by Recovery Cymru and learned about the support services they provide, we were keen to help and agreed to run free legal clinics for their members.

"Unfortunately the changes to the allocation of Legal Aid has made it often impossible for everyone to seek legal advice in respect to family matters. These clinics help those in a vulnerable position and the advice provided has been appreciated.”

Sarah Vaile, founder and director of Recovery Cymru, has welcomed Howells offer. She said: “We are delighted to welcome Howells Solicitors to Recovery Cymru and our members are grateful for the advice they can offer. Many of our members face barriers to accessing support with family law issues, including low confidence, negative past experiences, and the changes in legal help/aid have further exacerbated these barriers.

"It has also been a source of confusion and worry for our members.  A significant proportion of our members have children with whom there are contact and residence issues. Due to the often difficult situations they find themselves in, they are particularly vulnerable and dealing with statutory agencies like Social Services and the Courts can feel like a very daunting prospect.

"The clinics will provide our members with the opportunity to speak to a legal professional for support, advice and possible referral to approach these issues. The first clinic proved to be very popular and I’m sure that as more of our members find out about it there will be further demand.”

After being named as one of the UK's top three large conveyancing companies in the Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year 2013 Awards, Howells Solicitors has continued its impressive 2014 with a number of accolades and industry achievements.

This year, the leading Welsh legal practice has:

• Been named as the UK Family Law Firm of the Year by Corporate LiveWire.
• Announced a new office in Bridgend which is to open in the summer of 2014.
• Recruited and promoted more than 20 legal professionals across South Wales.
• Been named by Chambers and The Legal 500.
• Had individual solicitors also named by Chambers and The Legal 500.
• Completed the first Help To Buy Wales house purchase.
• Maintained membership of the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme.
• Introduced Howells' Employment Law Packages (HELP) to provide employment law advice and guidance for employers.
• Worked closely with the University of South Wales to help law undergraduates and provide pro-bono legal advice via University drop-in clinics.
• Provided pro-bono legal advice for Welsh charities and organisations supporting individuals overcoming addictions and adversity.

Mark Hobbs, managing partner at Howells reflected on a very successful 12 months for the legal firm and looked forward to more success in the next year.

He said: "2013 was a fantastic year for Howells Solicitors. We are fortunate to employ a very talented team of legal professionals in all of our offices, who are determined to provide our clients with a first-class service. The successes of 2013 have carried on into 2014 and, far from being complacent about what we have achieved.

The whole team is focused on developing the business to provide our clients with comprehensive legal services that they will continue to use time after time."

Talk to Howells Solicitors today

For expert advice on a wide variety of legal issues, talk to specialist solicitors at Howells online today. To set up a no-obligation meeting, call Freephone 0808 178 2773 or email info@howellslegal.com. 

by Tristan Lewis

Laith Khatib, private client specialist solicitor at Howells Solicitors, was recently invited by the editor of the London Gazette to write an article for the first official public record and the newspaper of the Crown. 

In the article, entitled ‘DIY Probate: The Dos and Don’t’s, Laith explains the potential pitfalls of do-it-yourself probate are and what anyone considering DIY probate should know before they commit to this important duty.

Some of the aspects that Laith said should be considered included:

•    The deceased’s financial affairs
•    The length of time before the estate should be distributed
•    Whether to distribute the will if it may be contested
•    Whether to carry out bankruptcy searches
•    What to do about probate if there is no will

The article provides Laith’s expert insight and guidance for people choosing to undertake the assignment themselves rather than employ the services of a professional. Throughout his legal career, Laith has specialised in this specific area of law with particular emphasis on litigation in these areas.

Laith is a member of the Law Society, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and Solicitors for the Elderly as well as being a Trustee of Age Concern Morgannwg and a MENCAP recommended expert for wills and trusts.

The article can be read in full here and should you require any additional information please contact Laith at our Cardiff office on 02920 404034 or by email Laith.k@howellslegal.com.

by Tristan Lewis

Howells Solicitors has promoted two of its solicitors to become directors. The firm, which opens a new office in Bridgend this August, has awarded the directorships to Rhidian Hobbs and Laith Khatib.

Rhidian heads up the firm’s commercial property department and has played a key role in expanding this area of work. Rhidian acts for property developers, investors and business owners in connection with all aspects of commercial property. 

Laith works in the firm’s private client department, which deals with wills, trusts and estates. His practice focuses on high value trusts and estates, and litigation in those areas.  He also advises charities representing the elderly and people with learning difficulties on matters relating to his specialism. In his spare time Laith sits as the chairman of trustees of Age Connects Morgannwg.

Mark Hobbs, managing director of Howells Solicitors, said, “The firm has witnessed significant growth in the last few years, which has required us to develop our people right across the business. Rhidian and Laith have played a massive role in the firm’s ongoing success and I am very pleased to welcome them to the senior team.”

Rhidian, who has been with Howells for 10 years, said “Over the years we have built up an experienced team of specialist solicitors and our strategy will be to continue to grow the business and to improve upon our strong reputation in a number of key sectors.”

Laith added “these are exciting times for the firm and I relish the opportunity to contribute at board level.  I am confident the business will build on its success, and for my part, I will do all that I can to ensure our clients continue to experience a first class service”.

Howells Solicitors now has 5 directors and a total of 101 staff at offices in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Talbot Green, Caerphilly and Bridgend. We specialise in a wide variety of legal solutions for both individuals and businesses. To see if we can help, talk to us today. 

by Tristan Lewis

We’re delighted to announce that our award winning conveyancing teams have been shortlisted for three more national awards!

Following on from the success of being named as one of the top three large conveyancing companies in the UK in the Estate Agency of the Year 2013 Awards, we’ve received confirmation that we have been shortlisted for three more:

•    CQS Award for Excellence in Conveyancing Practice category in the Law Society Excellence Awards,

•    Best Regional Conveyancer (Wales and the West Midlands region) category in the Law Firm Service Awards 2014

•    Best UK Direct Conveyancer category in the Law Firm Service Awards 2014

The winners of the awards will be announced in the next two months at ceremonies in London and Coventry respectively. 

Mark Hobbs, managing partner at Howells Solicitors is delighted with the news.

He said “2014 has already been a record breaking year for Howells. Being shortlisted for these awards are fantastic achievements for the company and a testament to the dedication and expertise of our conveyancing experts. I’m very proud of the whole team who continue to maintain our well earned reputation for excellence.“

We’re proud of the high level of service that our conveyancing solicitors offer to customers across South Wales. Every month we complete property purchases worth more than £50m and are trusted by some of the country’s leading estate agents.

To find out more about our award-winning conveyancing service, visit our conveyancing page today.

(Image: The Law Society)

Howells Solicitors were named as the Best Regional Conveyancing Firm of 2014 for the Wales and West Midlands region at the prestigious Law Firm Services Awards.  Competing against leading law firms from across the region, the judges said that we stood out from our competitors, “as they truly believe in putting the customer first. This was evident by the high level of repeat business from existing customers.”

Why Howells Stood Out

The judges identified our ‘commitment to the ongoing development and training of all staff in order to keep up their fantastic reputation and very high staff retention rates’ as key factors for awarding us the category win.

We were also runners up in the Direct Conveyancing Firm of 2014 category. This award recognises conveyancing firms that operate across the UK as well as their own locality. We were delighted to be shortlisted for this award as we have only been promoting our services nationally for a short period but already achieved this recognition.

Mark Hobbs, managing partner of Howells Solicitors said, “We’re delighted as a company to receive the award and fantastic comments from the judging panel. We have invested significant resources into ensuring we provide a first class conveyancing service, employing a talented legal experts in our six offices and developing strong relationships with industry professionals. We won’t rest on our laurels, we will continue to seek to improve our overall performance.”

Proud to be an Award Winning Conveyancing Firm

This is the second award our conveyancing teams have won after being named as one of the top three large conveyancing companies in the UK at The Sunday Times sponsored Estate Agency of the Year Awards.

Our conveyancing teams have also been shortlisted for the CQS Award for Excellence in Conveyancing Practice category in the Law Society Excellence Awards. We will find out if we have been successful at the awards ceremony in London next month.

It’s been a great year for other legal departments within Howells Solicitors. We were named as the UK Family Law Firm of the Year by Corp LiveWire, our solicitors in the Private Client departments have been invited to join the boards of national charities and organisations and our Business Services have successfully launched the Howells Employment Law Package (HELP).

If you want to enlist the help of our award winning conveyancing services then give us a call on 080 178 2773 or fill in the enquiry form below.

by Tristan Lewis

Howells Solicitors are delighted to announce that we have completed 294 of the 1000 purchases of new homes in Wales using the Help-to-Buy-Wales scheme.

First Anniversary of Help-to-Buy-Wales

On the first anniversary of the Help-to-Buy-Wales scheme, the initiative celebrates the completion of the purchase of the 1,000th home bought through this scheme. The law firm responsible for completing the first sale using this scheme in February 2013 has been appointed by a further 293 clients to represent them in the sales process.

A Year of Success for Howells

This achievement is the culmination of a record and awarding winning year for the conveyancing department of the law firm. On average they have completed 800 residential purchases each month and in September were named as the Best Regional Conveyancing Firm of 2014 for the Wales and West Midlands region at the prestigious Law Firm Services Awards.

Mark Hobbs, managing partner of Howells Solicitors said, “We’re delighted to have been chosen to represent a record number of clients in 2014 and receive the award as recognition of the quality of work and high level of customer service provided by the conveyancing teams.”

Mr Hobbs continued, “When the Help to Buy-Wales scheme was announced we researched the details of the initiative, what was required from sellers and their legal representation and then undertook a marketing campaign to promote our knowledge base and expertise.”

“Our Swansea office completed the first Help to Buy-Wales new home purchase and our conveyancers in all six of our office have been busy since then working on others. The scheme has proven to be very successful for buyers and other parties involved in the residential market including homebuilders who are committing to build new houses to meet the increased demand.”

Use Howells for Your New Build Purchase

If you’re thinking about buying a new build property in Wales using the Help-to-Buy-Wales scheme then give Howells Solicitors a call today on 0808 178 2773.

With years of experience dealing with conveyancing and having handled over 290 individual cases using Help-to-Buy-Wales, we can ensure that you have the smoothest experience possible.

At Howells Solicitors we are delighted to announce that in 2014 we achieved a record turnover - in excess of £6m. This is an increase of 20% on the previous year’s result which highlights the firm’s significant growth in its conveyancing and family departments. We also saw an increase in clients using our commercial, employment law and private client departments.

Huge Growth at Howells

Over the last two years, we have enjoyed a period of rapid expansion – now employing over 100 personnel and opening our sixth office in Bridgend last year. In addition to this, we potentially have two more office locations planned along the M4 South Wales corridor.

Howells’ managing partner, Mark Hobbs, said, “This has been another exceptional year of growth and change for Howells. Whilst the majority of our cases are in Wales, our client base in England has significantly increased, especially regarding conveyancing work. This has been achieved due to the investment made in IT systems and software allowing us to provide high quality services online as well as in our offices.”

He concluded, “The excellent results are a tribute to the hard work, dedication and expertise of our staff across all six offices and a reflection of the ambition, determination and vision of our clients.”

Award Winning Year

2014 wasn’t just a year of financial growth for Howells, we have also excelled on a number of levels over the last twelve months, including being recognised as:

•    The Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year in the Law Firm Services Awards
•    The UK Global LiveWire Family Law Firm of the Year
•    Recognised in the latest edition of legal directory Legal 500.

To find out more about the services that we provide or to seek our specialist legal advice, talk to us today on 0808 178 2773.

An IT specialist with a proven track record of writing and implementing new software and systems for law firms has joined Howells Solicitors.

Sarah Pomeroy will be joining the law firm to manage a large IT investment upgrade programme across Howells’ network of six offices.

The programme includes:

•    Implementing a new practice management system
•    A new IT and phone infrastructure
•    Developing systems to enable the law firm to move towards a paperless environment
•    Maximising opportunities presented by cloud software.

Utilising her previous teaching qualification, her new role will also include training all of the staff on the new systems.

When explaining why the new position was created, Mark Hobbs, managing partner of Howells Solicitors, said:

“The Legal industry has changed significantly over the last five years. The introduction of Alternative Business Structures has increased competition in the marketplace, and the increased use of the internet by clients to search and interact with solicitors regarding legal matters has to be recognised and addressed. In addition to this, investing in bespoke software helps streamline our services and provide instant traceability for all parties.”

He continued, “Sarah joins Howells from another legal practice where she was instrumental in not only project managing, but also writing new software for their specific requirements. She will be doing the same for us using her extensive knowledge of the legal sector.”

Prior to joining Howells, Sarah was ICT Developer for a national law firm for 10 years and then became an implementation consultant for a leading legal software company.

Commenting on her new role, Sarah said:

“When the directors of Howells explained what they wanted to achieve regarding their IT investment programme and their future plans for the firm, I welcomed the opportunity to join the firm and take responsibility for the delivery of the project. It is going to be challenging, but when completed will provide both Howells clients and staff with a bespoke IT package enabling the business to continue to grow and develop.”

Talk to Howells Solicitors

We are one of the largest and longest-established firms of solicitors in Wales, delivering an unrivalled service at a competitive price.

We maintain our standards by employing the highest calibre of staff and continue to uphold our abiding policy of offering personal, expert and cost-effective advice.

If you have a legal issue that you would like to discuss, please telephone us on 0808 178 2773 or email: info@howellslegal.com.

Howells Solicitors were delighted to sponsor The Strategy Prize category at the Wales Quality and Innovation Awards, which celebrates Welsh companies and organisations achieving excellence in their business practices.

The event was hosted by BBC Wales’ Lucy Owen at the Vale Resort, and was attended by many leading business figures representing the cream of Welsh industry.

North Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) Primary Care Services were the winners of The

Strategy Prize, with the judging panel recognising the organisations’ application of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model whilst merging services and re-structuring within the NWSSP accommodation strategy.

Mark Hobbs, managing partner of Howells Solicitors presented the award to NWSSP.
He said:

“The Wales Quality Centre provides first class business management services for organisations across private, public and the third sector. We’re proud to be a member and pleased to show our support through the sponsorship of The Strategy Prize at their gala showcase event. We would like to congratulate NWSSP on their achievement.”

To find out more about the Wales Quality and Innovation Award, click here.

Howells hosted a free Employment Law seminar in our Cardiff office which provided HR and business professionals with the latest updates regarding changes in Employment Law.

The First of Three Seminars from Howells Solicitors

Luke Welsh, Head of Employment Law, presented to a full room imparting advice about a range of Employment Law topics including:

•    Shared Parental Leave
•    Recent Changes in Holiday Pay Legislation
•    The continued impact of Tribunal fees
•    An overview of the forthcoming Fit for Work National Scheme
•    The proposed changes pledged by the new Government in their manifesto

This Employment Law seminar was the first of three planned by Howells Solicitors over the next few months. We will be hosting similar events in Bridgend and Swansea, but will also consider presenting at other business events or for specific businesses.

The feedback received from the delegates was positive with many commenting on the relevance and detail of information provided for each of the topics for their individual roles.

“Excellent session with useful advice that can be used in practice, with good examples” – Aible

“A very informative session to help keep my company up to date with the rapidly changing employment laws which was well presented” – Protea Services

“A very interesting seminar, Luke kept everyone interested. A thoroughly useful presentation, timed just right” – TT Electronics

“Very useful and clearly explained” – Protea Services

“I found the event a very useful update that fits well with the working day. Good networking too” – Monmouthshire Building Society

“Timings were perfect. An excellent seminar. Bitesize seminars of this nature are conclusive to work and retaining information. Thank you for inviting us” – Maldron Hotel

“My first visit to Howells, and it was very interesting and informative – improved my HR knowledge considerably. Thank you” – Ash Veterinary Surgery

Find out More

To find out more about our proposed seminars, to book a talk for your business or simply to discuss any of your legal needs, call Howells today on 0808 178 2773. As Employment Law specialists, we have the expert knowledge you need to smoothly handle any issues in the fastest time possible.

Record Year For Howells

Howells Solicitors have recruited 16 new members of staff since the beginning of the year with more appointments to follow. The new posts are primarily in the conveyancing departments of their Cardiff and Bridgend offices with other positions filled in their other four branches.

The new positions have been created following a record year for the business with turnover exceeding £6m in 2014 for the first time in the company’s history. Their conveyancing departments have been completing approximately 800 property transactions a month, and in Wales, Howells has been instructed by almost a third of all home buyers using the Help to Buy Wales scheme.

One of Wales' Largest Law Firms

Earlier this year, Howells Solicitors further strengthened their position as one of Wales’ largest law firms by completing the issuing of new Shares to three directors of the company in a six figure transaction. Rhidian Hobbs, Laith Khatib and Mick Fallon all of whom have been with the firm for some years are now shareholders in the business and will join the three founding shareholders on the Senior Management Team as they work together to manage the growth of the business and plan a long term strategy to plan for the future.

Managing Partner Mark Hobbs said:

“2014 was a fantastic year for Howells and 2015 is exceeding targets across our South Wales network of offices. We have had to recruit a combination of qualified solicitors, conveyancers and administrators to help us manage our increased workloads whilst maintaining high customer service standards. We forecast that another 10 positions will be created before the end of the summer including new posts in our Private Client and Family Law departments. 

He continued, “The housing market has been particularly active which has benefitted our conveyancing departments. We have recorded a staggering 97% increase in the number of cases we were instructed on between February 2013 and February 2015.  We found the market did slow a little pre-election when home buyers and sellers were waiting to see the outcome of the voting but there has already been a change of gear and the prospects for the second half of the year are very good.”

Howells Solicitors comprises 120 employees including six partners and 45 fee earners. The firm specialises in personal and commercial law and operates from six offices across South Wales.

Howells Announces Extra Dates for Free Employment Law Seminars in Swansea and Cardiff

Are you up to date with the latest developments in Employment Law legislation? Would you like to find out more about recent changes in this area so that you’re able to safeguard your business and employees?

At Howells Solicitors, we appreciate that it can be difficult for busy people to keep up with the latest in Employment Law legislation. However, this complex area of the law has many implications for employers and employees alike, and understanding them is imperative.

In an attempt to assist those who would benefit from professional guidance in this area, Howells Solicitors are hosting two FREE Employment Law seminars for businesses based in Cardiff, Swansea and South West Wales. The first will be hosted at the Village Hotel in Swansea on the 7th of July, followed by a second at our Cardiff Offices on the 9th of July.

These seminars will provide practical, jargon-free advice and guidance regarding recent changes in Employment Law and best practice, and is aimed at HR professionals and senior management. However, the information we will be providing is relevant for anyone in business and all are welcome.

Subjects Covered

Luke Welsh, Head of Employment Law will present the two, two-hour workshops. Delegates will be able to update their knowledge about:

Shared Parental Leave

Did you know that parents and legal guardians of a child are now able to split the maternity/paternity leave over 52 weeks?

Changes in Holiday Pay Calculations, Commission and Overtime

The law governing holiday pay has changed quite considerably since the landmark Lock vs British Gas Trading case last year.

The Impact of Changes to the Employment Tribunal Process

Employees now have to pay to lodge a complaint and make a further payment should they proceed to a hearing.

Proposed Changes to Zero Hour Contracts

Can employers stop workers on zero hours contracts from seeking work elsewhere?

Fit to Work National Scheme

A new service mainly targeting SMEs, aimed to help employees stay in work when they are ill and return to work more quickly when they have been off sick for four weeks or more.

Feedback from Previous Seminars

Feedback from a previous seminar held in our Cardiff office was extremely positive. Delegates commented on its usefulness and relevance to their day-to-day business, clear explanation, use of real life working examples, and the great opportunity that it provided for networking.

You can read more on the seminar’s success here. To book your place at this free event, please email info@howellslegal.com.