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He said that foreigners’ misgivings about the Spanish legal profession were more about
trust and service than technical expertise and that they represented an opportunity for
modern, customer-driven firms to thrive. Mr Pedregosa traced some of the causes of
disenchantment among foreign communities back to the long property boom:
Advoco has spent six months developing and rolling out an expanded version of the firm
designed to counter negative preconceptions held by its target market of mainly British
residents:
- Service from ten centres spread throughout Granada, Malaga and Cordoba
- Dedicated client service associates in each centre recruited from the local foreign
community
- Low cost and innovative online and phone services via the new website
- An open pricing policy with fees analysed and agreed upfront
- An out-of-office service where Advoco meet clients at or near their home or
workplace
- Guarantee against conflicts of interest. Advoco will have no commercial
relationship with any businesses or organisations which may compromise the
independence of advice given
Reporting of the recession in Spain has concentrated on fallout from the property boom
but it’s not just estate agents and builders who have struggled. This month El
Confidencial reported, in an article headlined “The Ruin of Lawyers”, that many small
practioners “barely cover expenses”. In coastal hotspots and other areas popular with
foreigners, many lawyers are struggling as conveyancing work has dried up and some
have shut their doors.
Quite apart from the recession, the image problem of Spanish lawyers described by Mr
Pedregosa has resulted mainly from the numerous complaints, petitions, legal actions and
campaigns undertaken by unwitting foreign buyers of illegally built property. The direct
blame for this situation has been laid at the doors of corrupt Town Halls, estate agents and
developers (according to one campaign group in Malaga alone “18 of the 29 mayors are
under investigation for real estate corruption”). But lawyers have come under fire for
among other things:
The problem has been compounded by the lawyers’ professional body (Colegio de
Abogados) failing to act upon or even acknowledge some serious complaints. For more
information and to read real life stories of buyers caught up in illegal build scandals, visit
the website of campaign group Spanishpropertyscandalpetition.co.uk which has
petitioned Downing Street and is preparing a petition to the European Parliament.
About Advoco
Senior partners
Manuel Garcia Pedregosa is a qualified lawyer and accountant and member of the
Granada Colegio de Abogados. He has 23 years experience in private practice
specialising in small and medium sized businesses and property law. He is partner in
overall charge of the legal and accounting departments of ADVOCO.
History