The Conveyancing Association has appointed former LMS chief executive Nick Chadbourne as its new non-executive chair as the sector prepares for further reform of the home buying and selling process.

Chadbourne (pictured) will take up the role at the start of October, succeeding Nicky Heathcote, who is leaving the trade body at the end of her second term as non-executive chair.

He recently stepped down from conveyancing services provider LMS after 10 years as chief executive, during which he worked across the home-moving market with lenders, conveyancers, mortgage advisers, suppliers and panel managers.

The Conveyancing Association said his experience across the property transaction would be particularly relevant as changes to the home buying and selling process are developed.

Chadbourne plans to begin his tenure by consulting the association’s legal member firms and affiliates before agreeing longer-term priorities with its board.

He has also highlighted commercial and operational challenges facing conveyancing firms, including fee levels, caseload pressures and the loss of technical knowledge as experienced staff leave the profession.

Chadbourne said: “Having spent 10 years running LMS, I have had a unique view across the property transaction, working with a large number of stakeholders, including the CA and its membership, and seeing first-hand where many of the pressures and points of friction exist.

“The next few years are going to be hugely important for conveyancing and the wider home-moving market. Reform of the home buying and selling process is coming, and it is vital this happens with conveyancers rather than to them.

“Conveyancers need a credible and informed voice in the room while those changes are being shaped, rather than simply being brought into the conversation once decisions have already been made.

“The CA has built considerable credibility and has shown it is prepared to take a leading role in the bigger debates about how we improve the home-moving process. I want it to continue that work, but I also want to make sure we are just as focused on the practical issues our members face every day.

“Fee levels, caseload pressures, maintaining technical knowledge and the practical problems firms encounter week-in, week-out all matter, and the bigger reform agenda cannot be allowed to crowd those issues out. I want the CA to be equally trusted on the longer-term issues and the everyday ones.

“My first priority, however, is to listen. I want to speak to legal member firms and our affiliates, and understand what they think we do well, what we could do better and what they need from their representative body.

“From there, we can set our priorities and build our plans for growth and reform together, based on what members and affiliates are actually telling us. I would like to thank Nicky for her tireless work for the CA.

“She has achieved a huge amount during her time here and I’m looking forward to building on everything she did for the Association.”

Victoria Mortimer, speaking on behalf of the Conveyancing Association board, said: “We are delighted Nick has agreed to become the new Non-Executive Chair of the CA. His experience across the conveyancing and wider property market, and the relationships he has developed, will bring an important new perspective to this work.

“This is a significant period for the conveyancing profession, both in terms of the wider reform agenda and the commercial and operational pressures we continue to face. Nick understands both sides of that equation and shares the Board’s determination that the CA should provide a strong voice for its members.

“We look forward to working with him as he takes up the role, and to introducing him formally to members in Liverpool next month.

“Everyone on the CA Board and Executive would also like to thank Nicky for everything she has done for the Association. She has worked tremendously hard and has made a real difference; we wish her well for the future.”

Chadbourne is due to attend the association’s All Member Meeting and Networking Dinner at the Liver Building in Liverpool on 8 October.