Charles Coleman LLP

Throughout the whole experience the team at Charles Coleman were very efficient and kept me informed at all times about any issues.

Shailja was both helpful and efficient in preparing our Deeds of Variation following the death of two family members. She also responded very quickly when she gave us advice on my questions about preparing the IHT forms.

I have used Colemans for both Probate and my recent divorce and in both instances these were handled excellently.
Guy Barlow who handled my divorce was extremely informative and knowledgable, with access to excellent barristers.
He always repsonded very quickly to any questions I had and kept the process as efficient as possible which kept costs under control which is extremely important in this process as costs can spiral so easily.
I would definitley recomed using Guy Barlow / Colemans.

Key Issues:
Lack of Transparency: One of the most alarming aspects of my experience was the lack of transparency regarding the nature of the transaction. Key details—such as the inclusion of a 50% share of the freehold, annual estate fees amounting to £2300, and the responsibility to act as the landlord for the entire building—were concealed by the vendor and the estate agent. Though these facts were revealed early in the process, my solicitor failed to communicate them to me, depriving me of the opportunity to make informed decisions.

Failure to Act in My Best Interest: Rather than consulting me about these critical details, the solicitor proceeded with the transaction, making agreements on my behalf. It was only one week before the scheduled completion date that I learned of these terms—information that drastically changed the nature of the purchase and forced me to withdraw. This lack of proactive engagement and communication demonstrated a concerning disregard for my best interests as a client.

Lacklustre Complaint Resolution: When I raised a formal complaint with the firm detailing my concerns (i.e. I was billed for 75% of the work + an abortive fee of 75% of the cost estimated), their response was deeply unsatisfactory. Rather than addressing the specific points of grievance, they padded their reply with irrelevant statements, downplayed their failings, and offered a superficial solution. In a brief acknowledgment, the solicitor admitted to omitting certain information regarding the legal title but trivialized the impact of this omission. As a token gesture, the firm offered a £500 goodwill reduction—a response that fell far short of addressing the gravity of the situation.

Conclusion: This experience has left me deeply disappointed and disillusioned with the firm’s conveyancing services. I expected my solicitor to act in my best interest, ensuring that I was thoroughly informed of all relevant details well in advance. Instead, their lack of transparency and accountability caused significant upheaval. This has not only made me question their competence but also undermined my trust in professional services as a whole. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this firm to others seeking conveyancing services.

I had a fantastic experience with Simran and Lisa buying my first house in the UK. They are a great team, providing timely updates and are very quick to respond. Very smooth process from start to finish.

All my calls were answered directly without options and the team of Nathan, Samantha and Alice were particularly caring and kind.

I received exceptional service from the solicitors at Charles Coleman LLP throughout the sale of my property and the purchase of my new place. They were professional, efficient and responsive. Their communication was excellent throughout, and I thoroughly appreciated their timely handling of the whole portfolio.

It was a very prolonged and frustrating sale, due to buyers solicitors slow response.
Karina was so helpful, always available, answering emails and phone calls very promptly.

Shelli was extremely helpful in applying for probate and winding up our late mother’s estate. Her guidance and attention to detail was first rate as were her immediate responses to any questions that we had during the process. So helpful to be kept informed throughout with great communication.