Don't understand this legal term?

[palarvapea]

So we have sold our house. Our buyers have been faffing around for the past 4 weeks trying to choose a solicitor for conveyancing.
Earlier this week a solicitor contacted me saying sorry for the delay, but your buyers have been looking around for a solicitor to take them on on a private client basis. They have now chosen him to work with and the ball should start rolling.
What is a private client basis? Surely all clients are private? Why would they need to find one who specifically does this?
Google doesn’t throw up anything relevant.
Thanks!

I’ve asked a few friends, and they don’t have a clue either?!

www.lawcareers.net/Solicitors/SolicitorPracticeAreas/Private-client

Thank you for that.
I’ve googled but nothing comes up regarding private client conveyancing. Just probate, wills, tax advice etc.
And I would like to know the difference between this, and the average persons conveyancing solicitor.

As the link above mentionsprivate ckient istge name for the type of legal work that covers wills etc.

In some smaller firms it is possible one solicitor could cover private client work and conveyancing. It sounds like they were looking for a solicitor to help them with a few matters including the house purchase.

Ah ok.
Google also states that private client work may deal with people who have lots of assets/wealth.
I’m not sure that applies here, as they are getting a mortgage to buy our property and we are selling a 3 bed house for approx £350k!
Was just confused regarding it all.

my guess based on what i see in Google results: I think it means that the buyers want more than just a standard conveyancing service, they want the solicitor to manage the purchase in a complicated way that may mean that the intended owner is a family trust or somesuch, and they therefore require more specialist knowledge in tax consequences and safeguards against additional liabilities than would normally be expected.

this may not be right.

Ah ok, perhaps.

Private client work usually means the department in a law firm that deals with trusts, tax planning, inheritance planning, unusual structures for owning property. The name comes from acting for individuals which lots of city law firms aren’t geared up to do (instead focusing on corporates). It seems odd given value of property and that they’re buying with mortgage but not impossible. It really shouldn’t cause you issues although as you say a pain it’s already caused delay.

Are they buying it for family or part of a portfolio?

I work in private client (tax) and a solicitor would do the legal drafting of documents for wealth planning, such as tax structure of family investment companies etc.

That's the only thing that comes to mind for me.

No they are buying it to live in.
They have been in the uk for the past few years if that makes a difference? They’re from Madrid and are working lecturing over here.