SW Law & Finance

Business Details

Your Trusted Partner for Legal & Financial Services

SW Law & Finance has been dedicated to providing integrated legal and financial services to individuals and businesses across the South West region. Our approach prioritises long-term client relationships, combining expertise in legal matters such as conveyancing, wills, trusts, and commercial law with tailored financial planning solutions. With a focus on collaboration, we work closely with clients to address complex needs, offering specialist knowledge in areas including tax planning, inheritance, and estate management.

Our commitment to community engagement and ethical practice has established us as a trusted advisor, supporting local charities and initiatives while maintaining regulatory compliance through the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. Although SW Law will cease trading on 30 June 2025, our trusted partners at Dartmoor Law will continue to deliver the same high standards of service.

Services

Conveyancing Wills Trusts and Estates Commercial Law Tax Planning Charities Farming Disputes Lasting Power of Attorney Financial Advisers

Highlights and features

We offer dual expertise in legal and financial services under one roof.
Our team includes solicitors and financial advisers with over 30 years of combined experience.
We prioritise face-to-face client relationships while offering flexible virtual consultations.
Our regulatory compliance ensures transparent and ethical service delivery.
We actively support local charities and community initiatives in the South West.

Associations and certifications

Solicitors Regulation Authority
Financial Conduct Authority

What people say

Excellent professionalism Helpful and courteous Outstanding service Friendly staff Very professional

Website

Update Listing

Services

Conveyancing

Our conveyancing service specialises in residential property transactions, including first-time purchases, remortgaging, and equity release. We guide clients through the process with fixed-fee structures and transparent timelines, ensuring smooth completions within approximately 12 weeks. Our team handles legal complexities while advising on associated financial planning considerations such as wills and cohabitation agreements.

Wills

We create bespoke wills tailored to individual circumstances, ensuring asset distribution aligns with client wishes. Our approach integrates tax planning and guardianship arrangements for children or pets, with no additional value-based fees. Initial consultations are offered free of charge to develop comprehensive estate management strategies.

Tax Planning

Our tax planning services focus on reducing liabilities through inheritance tax mitigation, capital gains optimisation, and pension structuring. As independent financial advisers, we review market options to create custom solutions that align with long-term financial goals and regulatory requirements.

Commercial Law

We support businesses from formation to succession planning, covering contract drafting, intellectual property protection, and dispute resolution. Our solicitors provide strategic advice on company premises, employment matters, and risk management tailored to commercial clients in the South West region.

Charities

Our charity law specialists advise on governance, compliance, and operational structures for voluntary sector organisations. We combine legal expertise with sector-specific insights, supporting clients through trustee responsibilities and organisational development while maintaining our own community engagement commitments.

People

Eric Cowsill

Solicitor and IFA

With over 30 years' experience in both legal and financial disciplines, Eric provides integrated advice on estate planning, tax strategy, and asset management. His dual qualifications enable holistic solutions for complex client needs.

Rob Cowsill

Director and Independent Financial Adviser

Rob specialises in financial planning, bringing expertise from corporate and personal insolvency backgrounds. He focuses on retirement strategies, inheritance tax planning, and investment management for individuals and businesses.

Michael Gaye

Solicitor

Michael handles commercial law matters including conveyancing and business transactions. His experience spans local firms, providing practical legal solutions for companies in the South West region.

Clare Murray

Conveyancing Executive

Clare manages residential conveyancing cases with a focus on client communication. Since joining in 2015, she has built a reputation for efficiently handling property transactions from offer to completion.

Lauren Stephens

Trainee Solicitor

Lauren joined after graduating from Oxford Brookes University, working towards her Solicitors Qualifying Exams while assisting across legal departments. Her fresh perspective supports our commitment to evolving client service standards.

Questions

What areas do you cover?

We serve clients across South Hams, South Devon, West Devon, Dartmoor, Plymouth, Exeter, and East Cornwall from our Ivybridge office.

How are your legal fees structured?

We use time-based billing without percentage-based charges, offering free initial consultations and transparent cost estimates for estate and conveyancing matters.

Can you help with both legal and financial matters?

Yes, our integrated service combines legal expertise in wills, trusts, and property with financial planning for tax, pensions, and investments.

What accreditations do you hold?

We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA 558154) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 222033) for legal and financial services.

How do you handle probate applications?

Our probate service includes asset valuation, tax calculations, and court applications starting at £273, with additional costs for searches and notices.

What happens after June 2025?

SW Law will cease trading on 30 June 2025, but Dartmoor Law will continue providing the same legal services in partnership with SW Financial Planning.

Reviews (4)

Write a Review

Nik Middleton

May 04, 2022 Report

Eric has handled both my company and personal matters for many years. He is the best lawyer I've every had the privilege of knowing. Highly recommend

Pamela Stirling

Oct 06, 2021 Report

I can't praise Roy highly enough, he is hardworking, professional, and dependable I always knew he would respond to emails and phone calls. It is the first time I have ever applied for a mortgage and being an older client he needed to find me a tailor-made deal to fit my requirements, and he found me the perfect deal. He kept me informed every step of the way and gave me support when I needed it, he was able to sort out any lumps and bumps that arose.

He is always helpful and pleasant on the phone and I felt perfectly at ease with him, he is the only person I could rely on to lend me support when no-one else was responding. I can thoroughly recommend him to anyone, whatever age, especially to nervous older people like me.

Kelly Shenton

May 27, 2021 Report

A huge thank you Michael Gaye for your help with my legal matter. Professional, kind and a pleasure to deal with. Highly recommend!

Chris Hill

Apr 04, 2021 Report

I don't usually write reviews but given how impressed my wife and I are with the service we received from Roy at SWLaw, I feel compelled to do so! Roy has been fantastic in helping us choose the right product for us, explaining everything in layman's terms and keeping us updated with progress every step of the way. Everything Roy promised, he delivered and more! I won't bore with the details but in summary, Roy is the complete package and with what is usually considered a highly stressful and complicated process, my wife and I felt completely at ease and up to date with every situation when it arose! Thank you Roy, a true credit to the team and I look forward to dealing with you in the next few years when our mortgage requires looking at again! Chris.