17 May 2007
Views on solicitors’ professional conduct obligations regarding conflicts of interest when they want to act for seller and buyer in conveyancing and mortgage-related services are being sought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
It proposes three possible options: keeping the existing rule that solicitors can act for both parties in limited situations; scrapping the rule and allowing the general conflict provisions to apply; and relying on the general conflict provisions but introducing certain safeguards, eg that the solicitor must provide the client with information about the consequences of a conflict arising. The consultation period ends on 26 July 2007. More information is available at www.sra.org.uk/consultations.
