Meet our Property team – A Q&A session with Giles Griffiths
On Friday 15th November we will be celebrating Bath’s dynamic property sector at the second annual Bath Property Awards, of which we are proud to be the headline sponsor.
Property is important to us. From residential to commercial, from lease negotiations to first time buyers, our teams at Mogers Drewett have a wide variety of complementing skills and expertise to help with it all.
In the run up to the big event we will introduce members of the Bath-based Commercial and Residential Property teams – and share a few little-known facts about them.
We speak to Giles Griffiths, Associate Solicitor in the Residential Property team.
Q: So… what does a property lawyer do all day?
A: Review documents; advise clients; answer e-mails and telephone calls; draft documentation; meet with clients; liaise with estate agents
Q: What is the secret of good conveyancing?
A: Being organised and being able to explain complex legal issues in plain English.
Q: What is your specialism within the team?
A: I act in a broad cross section of residential property transactions, particularly those involving more complex matters, such as sales of part, properties with an element of commercial use, houses of multiple occupancy, tenanted properties and Country Houses.
Q: What did you do before Mogers Drewett?
A: I was a Film Finance lawyer in the City and then ran the Property department at a High Street Firm in Salisbury.
Q: What’s the most memorable transaction you have worked on?
A: Acting for a long-standing client on the acquisition of his dream property with B&B business, including three Airstream caravans. We had worked on several property transactions together and it was very satisfying to act on the purchase of his “retirement” property!
Q: If you could introduce one new property law what would it be?
A: I think the proposed introduction of reservation agreements (where a buyer reserves the right to purchase a property within a set period of time and pays a fee to do so) could make a real difference to the residential property market. They should significantly reduce the number of abortive transactions and focus all parties on timescale!
Q: Did you know…
… that I live in Bristol, but support Bath Rugby!