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Quastels Announces New Partner Appointments

Quastels LLP is pleased to announce that Nargiz Abdullayeva is now a partner, and the arrival of Ben Gale and Charlotte Vallins as partners, marking an important step in the continued growth and strengthening of the firm’s real estate and corporate practices.

These appointments reflect Quastels’ ongoing commitment to recognising exceptional talent from within the firm while also attracting highly regarded lawyers who bring depth of experience, strong market reputations and a client-focused approach.

Nargiz Abdullayeva, Residential Real Estate

Nargiz Abdullayeva is now partner following an exceptional career progression at Quastels. She joined the firm’s Residential Real Estate team as a solicitor in 2018 and brings over 10 years’ experience advising on high-value residential transactions for UK and international clients.

Nargiz has played a key role in the development of the firm’s Residential Real Estate practice and leads on Turkish client transactions, combining deep market knowledge with strong commercial insight. In her new role as partner, she will continue to strengthen the firm’s real estate offering, heading Turkish client transactions and supporting clients on complex, cross-border matters. Her promotion reflects both her technical expertise and her significant contribution to the firm’s growth.

Her appointment reflects both her technical expertise and her significant contribution to the firm’s growth.

If you’d like to discuss how Nargiz and her team can assist you in residential real estate matters, whether UK-based or international, please contact her via her email, nabduallyeva@quastels.com or call +44 7799 277084.

Ben Gale, Corporate

Ben Gale has joined Quastels as a partner in the Corporate team, bringing extensive experience advising a broad range of clients, from entrepreneurial businesses to established corporates, on UK and cross-border matters.

His practice covers mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, joint ventures, restructurings and general corporate advisory work. Ben has particular sector expertise in retail, hospitality and leisure, the testing, inspection, certification and compliance (TICC) sector, and the fast-growing online prize draws and competitions (PCD) space. 

Ben joins the firm from Irwin Mitchell and is highly regarded for his commercial focus, responsiveness and ability to drive transactions forward under demanding timeframes. He was recently shortlisted for Corporate Lawyer of the Year at the Insider Media South-East Dealmakers Awards, reflecting his strong market standing and dedication to client service.

If you’d like to discuss how Ben and his team can assist you in corporate matters, please contact him via his email, bgale@quastels.com or call +44 7341 590470.

Charlotte Vallins, Commercial Property

Charlotte Vallins has joined Quastels as a partner in the Commercial Property team. Specialising in commercial real estate for private and institutional investors in relation to freehold and leasehold acquisitions, disposals and financings of all complexity, she brings more than 15 years’ experience.

Charlotte joins Quastels from a large regional firm and is known for her proactive, pragmatic and client-focused approach. She is recognised for her attention to detail, clear communication and ability to deliver timely, commercial results. Charlotte is also listed as a Next Generation Partner in Legal 500, where she is praised for her professionalism, depth of knowledge and outstanding client service.

Her appointment further strengthens Quastels’ Commercial Property offering and reinforces the firm’s commitment to delivering high-quality, commercially focused advice.

If you’d like to discuss how Charlotte and her team can assist you in commercial property matters, whether UK-based or international, please contact her via her email, cvallins@quastels.com, or call +44 7351 590460.

Looking Ahead

The promotion of Nargiz and the appointments of Ben and Charlotte represent an exciting chapter for Quastels as the firm continues to build depth across its core practice areas. Together, they enhance the firm’s ability to support clients with complex, high-value and strategically important matters, both in the UK and internationally.

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Transfer of Equity to a Family Member: Costs, Tax and the UK Process

This is a legal process where the ownership of a property is changed by one or more people being added or removed from the property title.

The common reasons people choose a Transfer of Equity:

• Marriage or Civil Partnership: adding a spouse or partner to the title.
• Divorce or break-up: removing a former partner from the title.
• Buying out a Co-Owner: one owner purchasing the other owner’s shares.
• Gifting property to a relative.
• Creating a more favourable tax position for the family.

Can we use the same solicitor, or does each person need their own solicitor?

It depends on the circumstances. Your solicitor will be able to answer this once they have all relevant information of the proposed transfer.

Are there any Tax implications on transferring your property?

• Stamp Duty Land Tax (‘SDLT’) may be payable if the transfer is for any payment, or if a mortgage debt is being repaid or remaining on the title.
• If you want to transfer your property as a gift, you may be liable for capital gains tax and there will be inheritance tax consideration.

Quastels’ Private Wealth team can assist with any tax queries involving transfers of equity and wider tax planning considerations.

What is the process?

1. If the property is mortgaged, first speak to your mortgage lender as their consent may be required for the transfer.
2. Take tax advice and appoint a solicitor. At Quastels, we can advise on the tax position as well as deal with the conveyancing (the conveyancing costs will be lower than a normal purchase).
3. If the property is leasehold, a ‘licence to assign’ may be required, which is the landlord’s consent to the transfer. Your solicitor will check the lease to see if this is required and if so, will obtain it as part of the process.
4. All parties to the transfer will need to sign a Transfer Deed with an independent witness.
5. Once all above points have been satisfied, completion can take place and your solicitor will deal with any necessary payments.
6. Depending on the circumstances, SDLT may be payable and your solicitor will lodge the SDLT return.
7. If Leasehold, your solicitor will serve notice of the transfer upon the managing agents to ensure they update their records.
8. As the final part of the process, your solicitor will send an application to H.M. Land Registry to update the property ownership details.

To discuss a Transfer of Equity, contact our Residential Real Estate team, and our Private Wealth & Tax team.

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Conveyancing FAQs for First-Time Buyers

What are the key steps in the conveyancing process?

Answer: The conveyancing process can be divided into five essential stages:

1. Onboarding and Background Checks: We will conduct onboarding procedures, which include necessary background checks. This step involved verifying the source of funds, a legal requirement before proceeding with any property transaction.
2. Contract and Title Review: Once background checks are clear, we will review the contract and title documents to ensure that there are no issues or discrepancies that could affect your purchase. We then report to you on the title and provide you with the related documents we have reviewed.
3. Exchange of Contracts: This pivotal stage involves the formal exchange of contracts, at which point you will pay your deposit. Once contracts are exchanged, the agreement becomes legally binding, and both parties are committed to the transaction and a completion date is set for you to collect your keys.
4. Completion: On completion day, ownership of the property officially transfers to you. You will pay the final balance to the seller, and you will receive the keys to your new home.
5. Post-Completion: After completion, you will be responsible for paying any applicable Stamp Duty Land Tax. We will handle the submission of this tax and registration of your ownership with the Land Registry to ensure that your title is officially recorded in your name.

How long does the conveyancing process take?

Answer: The duration can vary based on several factors, such as the property type, any chain involved, and local authority processes. On average, it can take between 6 to 12 weeks, but it may be longer in complex situations.

What is the difference between freehold and leasehold properties?

Answer: A freehold property means you own the property and the land it stands on outright, giving you full control. In contrast, leasehold means you own the property for a specific period but not the land. You’ll often need to pay ground rent and almost always service charges. It’s essential to understand these differences when purchasing to know your rights and obligations. The differences between the two are outlined in our engagement letter and if you are purchasing leasehold, our report to you will go into detail on your rights and obligations under the lease you wish to purchase.

I am happy to proceed. What do you need from me to start the process?

Answer: To initiate the conveyancing process, we need final terms of sale, often referred to as the sales memo, from your estate agent or the reservation form detailing the terms of your transaction. Once we receive this information, we will create your file and guide you through the initial steps.

Does your retainer include tax advice?

Answer: No – although we provide some advice regarding calculation of your Stamp Duty Land Tax and assist you with your submission. We have a dedicated Tax Team that can assist you with further specialist enquiries as may be necessary.

I have agreed an incentive with my seller. How does this work?

Answer: Any incentive will be deducted from the final balance due to the seller on your completion. We are fully independent and so any incentive you have agreed will not work as a credit to your account with us.

Do you recommend I use a surveyor?

Answer: Yes, we strongly recommend using a surveyor, even when purchasing a new build property. A survey can identify defects or issues that need addressing before you finalise the sale. It’s best to conduct this survey before the exchange of contracts so that any findings can be raised with the seller, allowing for negotiations or repairs to be arranged as part of your transaction.

What are property searches, and why are they important?

Answer: Property searches are investigations conducted to uncover important information above the property and its surroundings, such as planning permissions, local authority issues, and environmental risks. These searches are crucial as they help identify potential problems that could affect your decision to proceed with the purchase. You don’t have to order searches if you are purchasing without a mortgage, but in most cases we would recommend them so you can have a more holistic view of the purchase and factors that may affect the property.

When should I apply for financing?

Answer: Timing is crucial when it comes to securing financing. Ideally, you should have your mortgage offer in place before the exchange of contracts, as this ensures you can proceed without the risk of no financing on your completion date. If your completion date is several years away–such as when buying off-plan–it’s advisable to speak with a mortgage broker early in the process. This way, you can understand your options and get pre-approval before committing to the purchase.

What happens on completion day?

Answer: On completion day, the final payment for the property is transferred to the seller’s solicitor, and ownership if officially transferred to you. You’ll receive the keys to your new home, and we will handle the registration of your ownership with the Land Registry. It’s an exciting day!

If you have any further questions, please contact our Residential Real Estate team.

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