The Bold Legal Group, set up by Rob Hailstone, has recruited its 300th conveyancing member firm.

It is Rothera Dowson in Nottingham.

Former HIP provider Hailstone has become a champion of independent local conveyancers – who have had the same kind of mixed fortunes as estate agents over the last few years, and perhaps even more so.

Hailstone started Bold as conveyancing firms were being chucked off lenders’ panels, throwing their businesses into disarray and threatening their whole future.

Hailstone said: “I set up the BLG after the closure of my HIP business. At the time I had no clear idea of what I really wanted to achieve, but I knew I wanted to help conveyancing firms tackle the problems and issues they have to deal with on a daily basis.

“Our first real task was dealing with the HSBC cull.

“With 300 member firms of all shapes and sizes, I don’t think there is an issue we haven’t, or won’t encounter. However, I can only do so much on my own. The daily input from the majority of our members is vital and keeps the discussions lively and relevant.

“In addition, we now work closely with over a dozen lenders and I have even managed to help get a few firms back on some panels.”

Tracey Carr, financial crime manager for Santander, said: “I met Rob a couple of years ago and have been receiving his bulletins ever since.

“As a lender, seeing the amount and quality of the information and advice provided reassures me that his member firms are as knowledgeable and as informed as any other firms out there.

“He recently distributed to his members an article I wrote on property hijacking.

“Whilst we might not always see eye to eye, we always have healthy and

productive discussions.”

Well, good on him – and more power to his members.