“I’m approachable, flexible and a massive believer in the power of a phone call.”

Joanne Bowmer

Partner

Cumbria

EXPERTISE.

Joanne has over 20 years’ experience working in Conveyancing.

Joanne also has a wealth of experience advising clients on complex and problematic unregistered property. Unregistered conveyancing is a bit of a dying art in the legal profession with modern title deeds and registration. Being able to read and decipher old paper title deeds is a speciality of Joanne’s.

TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR CAREER TO DATE / IN LAW?

I started as an office junior in a Newcastle Upon Tyne Law Firm after leaving school. From there I undertook part time study to gain my legal qualifications and worked my way up from legal secretary to Head of Conveyancing to now Partner.

Starting at the bottom of the chain (property pun intended) enabled me to have a full grounding and understanding of all parts of the process from all viewpoints and allows me to be fully self-sufficient in my way of working.

AND YOUR CLIENTS?

Most of my clients are long standing clients that have followed me through my career. I love nothing more than working with first time buyers on one of the most dauting experience of their lives. Hearing the little squeal of delight when we get keys handed over will never get old. After 20 years of making those calls, I still feel as excited as my clients.

WHAT DREW YOU TOWARDS RESIDENTIAL CONVEYANCING LAW?

I very soon realised that when most people buy a property, they are already emotionally invested before the legal process has even started. Most have planned where their sofa is going, the wall colours and who will have what room etc. You need someone to be able to look at the property without the emotional attachment and make sure you are buying something that is 100% right for you. Sometimes that’s a hard conversation to have but having that person in your corner is exactly what you need. You buy the property with your heart, I’m here to make sure you also buy it with your head.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT BEING A LAWYER?

Although a row of terraced houses or a brand-new estate may all look the same, no two property transactions are ever the same. Houses are like people, we are all slightly different, every seller or purchaser has their own set of circumstances, every person or property has its own set of quirks and sometimes hurdles.

AND WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING?

I am a massive gardening nerd! As a family we grow about 70% of the fruit & veg we consume. It’s a real passion. If you are buying a property with a garden and need some advice on what to plant and where, I’m here not just to talk about the bricks and mortar but the soil and greens.

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE ABOUT YOU AND THE WAY YOU WORK?

Northern folks are well known for being friendly and approachable and I am the embodiment of the North in a person. During the transaction, you may speak to me more than any other member of your family. We will build a friendship through that. Once the property has completed, I’m always a phone call away. I’ve never forgotten a client. I even had one reach out to me a year ago asking for some advice on a property I bought for them some 10 years ago and I still remembered they had a green front door at the time we completed.

HOW DO YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOUR CLIENTS?

Having a husband who works shifts and antisocial hours when we were house buying was a nightmare. I am 100% against only being available during 9-5. I’m approachable, flexible in my working hours and a massive believer in the power of a phone call. You won’t get bogged down with legal jargon, everything we do will be understandable and you won’t ever be left wondering what is going on.

TELL US A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT YOURSELF?

My parents are well known historians in the North of England, and I spent my childhood playing and sleeping in most of the UK’s castles & stately homes. I also used to fire actual cannons in battle re-enactments from the age of 11 and assumed everyone’s parents had gunpowder licenses and 2000yr old arrow heads laying around!