Fraud: Who is on the hook?

Should a vendor’s solicitor be under the same scrutiny as those representing the purchaser? Mary Young and Ben Hillman discuss ‘The Law Society Property and Registration Fraud Practice Note asserts the need for caution, as criminals will always attempt to exploit weaknesses in lending and conveyancing systems.’ Victims of identity theft or modern scams frequently …
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Davisons Solicitors v Nationwide Building Society [2012] EWCA Civ 1626

Wills & Trusts Law Reports | April 2013 #128

The claimant (Nationwide) offered on 12 December 2008 to lend Mr Patel £187,500 to enable him to buy 61 Avery Road, West Midlands (the property) for £249,995. Both Nationwide and Mr Patel instructed the defendant (Davisons) as solicitor on the basis of the Council of Mortgage Lenders Handbook (CML Handbook).

Paragraph 10.3.4 of the CML Handbook required Davisons to hold the loan money on trust for Nationwide until completion. On 30 January 2009, Davisons were informed by a letter sent from the offices of Rothschild in Small Heath that Rothschild were ac...