Campbell Smith LLP - Edinburgh

Michael P.

Be careful who you choose to do your conveyancing, both buying and selling!

Once you make an offer and it is accepted they will not allow you back in to the property until the missives are signed, for us this didn't happen until date of legal completion, either through laziness that they don't want to take people back in to the property or they are trying to hide something.

One of the partners has gone back on her word on the phone and an email. I will not be recommending this company in future either through my profession within the construction industry or personally.

Myself and my family legally completed on the 25th April buying a property from Campbell Smith with NO running WATER and HEATING!!! The solicitor at Campbell Smith on the phone said if I could send the quotes from a plumbing contractor (same contractor they used for shutting off the water in January 2025) to get the water back on (which I sent via email) that she will be willing to pay up to £1000 (£994 the quote was for the call out charge and the required works) as it does not require another executor. Anything above that then she would need to speak with another executor which is fair enough.

As per the email the solicitor wrote below on the 29th April
Last Friday I didn’t appreciate that the water was still turned off when we completed the sale. I think it is reasonable for the sellers to pay the cost of getting the water turned back on so if you have a bill for that can you please forward it to me.

Clearly a lack of due diligence or courtesy was done by Campbell Smith with the property and to make sure that these things were in place before a purchaser takes ownership of a home. At least they should have done was to make sure that there was running water and heating when someone is taking ownership of a property.

Unsurprisingly the solicitor is now refusing to speak with me via phone even though she was happy to do so at the start. I have not been unreasonable or used any abusive language towards any member of staff and I was trying to sort this out amicable and by being decent. Not once have I lied in this process.

Moving house is stressful at the best of times but having two young children under the 8 and one was poorly with chicken pox when we got the keys, then to have no running water (until we paid for a plumber to come out), using buckets of water to flush toilets, having to go to families homes to get showers takes any shine of moving to your new home.

Extract below taken from Campbells Smith website on the 7th May stating what type of company they are.
We pride ourselves on delivering a highly professional, approachable and individually tailored service to all our clients.
Obviously they do not practice what they say on their website.

Mark A.

Outstanding Service and Perseverance
We have used Ken at Campbell Smith twice now to buy and once to sell properties. The team there are excellent, first giving us accurate market-led information that enabled us to bid well, and win 100% of the bids we have posted (3 so far). Then their ability to handle the detail, maintain the momentum and close the deal, while keeping us calm throughout deserves a medal or two. Well done.

georgia W.

I can't say enough good things about our experience with Campbell Smith, they assisted us in purchasing a home recently and as overseas buyers the whole process can seem extremely daunting especially navigating the Anti Money Laundering rules. Not only were they super professional, patience in explaining how everything worked, but also helped us "slightly nervous buyers" negotiate a killer deal on an amazing property in a new City. Lisa did a phenomenal job coaching us in the negotiations, she's wise, thoughtful and smart. Ken was truly professional, highly capable and actually just a lovely person and helped us through to purchase. Even after the close Ken has been just a great resource on the area, and navigating some of the inevitable paperwork ! All in all I can't recommend the whole team highly enough and will be using them anytime myself or my family need an excellent law firm !

Scott G.

We recently moved home. The Campbell Smith conveyancing team helped us purchase our new property and in doing so provided a consistently excellent service. In particular, we really appreciated Ken Steele’s calm, can-do approach, his sound advice and everything he did on our behalf. His support was invaluable to us.

Tuesday R.

I worked with Ken Steele at Campbell Smith to buy a flat in Edinburgh. I am an overseas buyer, and this was my first Scottish purchase, so I was completely naive to how things worked. Ken led me through every step, giving me a fantastic overview of the Edinburgh property market, how to value what I was looking at and the way offers were made, and what the whole process was likely to cost.

When I found a property, I worked with the negotiations team to make an offer, which went very well, and I secured the flat under market.

Ken continued to advise throughout the process, and I had the full benefit of Campbell Smith's network in the city to find everything from surveyors to mortgage brokers, to tax advisors - even builders and utility companies! He was always available, promptly responsive, pragmatic, kind and wise, even as the process faltered through no fault of ours. I don't think we would have made it over the line without him chivvying everyone along, and resolving issues proactively before they could become problems.

This was an absolute 5 star experience, and I wouldn't dream of going to another lawyer or firm should I ever need assistance again. Highly recommend.

Alex V.

So called Family Law Experts: Well, Campbell Smith LLP inadvertently facilitated my ex wife and mother of my children 'taking me to the cleaners'. Having surrendered the family home with furnishings and handing over significant lump sums and including the family car and additional sums of money, I was asked in an incredulous manner "do you want to support your children at all"? I was insisting at the time that the trade off for all this was a waive of interest in my pension which would allow me to retire and have enough financial headroom to take my children on holidays and to continue 'being a dad'. The Minute of Agreement they drew up to reflect this proved to be worthless as the mother claimed my pension via the Child Maintenance Service. Yes, she is entitled to do this by law but had CS family experts pointed this out to me then I would have claimed my share of the house instead. I set up a complaint but they insisted that they were 'following instructions'. What does the average person know about family law? How could I, seeking advice and guidance in this 'once in a lifetime event' from so called experts, possibly be in a position to instruct them? If my instruction was not safe then surely their duty would have been to moderate it. I have an entire email time line of spurious and pointless enquiries which when I look back at them served no purpose for me but clearly padded out their account. On reflection, I felt cheated and that they were not looking after my interests. After their involvement I have been severely financially compromised and if it were not for my family I would most certainly be on the street! If you are a divorcing father please avoid this company and I would advise you to STAY in your family home (even if it's hell). Once you go from the house you're at a distinct disadvantage. Ask you family expert what they can and will do to protect your interests. You are your children's parent and should NOT be marginalised by toxic ex wife's and mothers. So many times it is the Dad who loses out and in doing so it's the children who lose their Dad... all for notional and imagined wrongdoings. Family Law is woefully outdated as it is but practiced by this law firm it demonstrably facilitates the ex wife / receiving parent. You will be better off contacting Justice for Fathers for sound advice before you proceed. As one who has had my lifelong finances and prospective savings utterly obliterated by this firm I would avoid avoid avoid!

Alison C.

A fantastic service from beginning to end in helping my elderly mother with a house move. Friendly and professional support and advice every step of the way. Thoroughly recommend.

Andrew M.

Excellent service from a friendly team.
Many thanks to Ken and Lisa for all of their help and advice. I would highly recommend their services, they made the process very smooth and easy.