Challenor Gardiner

Business Details

Your Trusted Legal Partner in Oxford

Challenor Gardiner has been providing legal services and advice to meet the needs of businesses, universities, and private clients in Oxford since 1851. Our lawyers are specialists in their respective fields, working collaboratively to deliver pragmatic and affordable legal solutions. We pride ourselves on offering the highest quality, professional, and friendly service, with advice presented in plain English to ensure clarity and successful outcomes. Our offices in central Oxford are conveniently located near transport networks and feature disabled access.

With expertise in residential conveyancing, wills, lasting powers of attorney, estate administration, divorce, family law, commercial property, and dispute resolution, we ensure clients receive tailored support. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our accreditations, including regulation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and membership in the Law Societys Conveyancing Quality Scheme.

Services

Residential Conveyancing Commercial Property Business Law Wills & Probate Family Law Dispute Resolution Trusts Court of Protection Commercial Leases Estate Administration

Highlights and features

Over 170 years of legal expertise in Oxford
Specialist solicitors across key practice areas
Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
Accredited under the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme
Client-focused service with transparent communication

Associations and certifications

Solicitors Regulation Authority
Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS)
Law Society's Lexcel v.6

What people say

Courteous, friendly and helpful service Excellent and speedy service Restored my faith in the legal system Efficient and friendly manner Excellent service with reasonable fees

Website

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Services

Residential Conveyancing

Our residential conveyancing service ensures smooth property transactions with experienced solicitors accredited under the Law Societys Conveyancing Quality Scheme. We handle first-time purchases, buy-to-let investments, and complex estate matters. Clients benefit from transparent pricing, dedicated support, and minimised risks throughout the process.

Family Law

Specialising in family law, we provide compassionate guidance for divorce, child arrangements, and financial settlements. Our solicitors are Resolution members, prioritising negotiation over litigation. Services include pre-nuptial agreements, cohabitation disputes, and court representation to protect client interests during emotionally challenging times.

Wills & Probate

We offer tailored will-writing services, lasting powers of attorney, and probate administration. Fixed fees apply for straightforward wills and LPAs, with complex cases handled on an hourly basis. Our team ensures estates are managed efficiently, including trust creation and Court of Protection applications for mental incapacity cases.

Commercial Property

Advising businesses and landlords on commercial property transactions, including lease renewals, assignments, and agricultural tenancies. We negotiate advantageous terms for new leases and resolve disputes over breaches, dilapidations, or forfeiture, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements for commercial real estate.

Dispute Resolution

Our dispute resolution team specialises in alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation to avoid costly court proceedings. For complex cases, we represent clients in County and High Courts, handling contract disputes, property conflicts, and contentious probate claims with a focus on cost-effective outcomes.

People

Nick Bingham

Principal

Qualified as a solicitor in 1985, Nick Bingham oversees the firms operations and acts as an executor and trustee. With decades of experience, he is praised for restoring client confidence in legal processes through pragmatic solutions.

Curtis Rogers

Head of Conveyancing

Leading the conveyancing department since 2014, Curtis Rogers combines expertise in residential property transactions with will-writing services. Clients commend his professionalism and personable approach during property purchases.

Gloria Asaaga

Solicitor

A newly qualified solicitor in the conveyancing and wills departments, Gloria Asaaga graduated from Oxford Brookes University and brings fresh expertise to property and probate matters after prior experience at a regional law firm.

Questions

What areas of law does Challenor Gardiner specialise in?

We specialise in residential conveyancing, family law, commercial property, business law, wills, probate, trusts, and dispute resolution, serving private and institutional clients in Oxford.

Are your conveyancing fees fixed or hourly?

We offer fixed fees for straightforward transactions like simple wills and mirror wills, while complex cases are charged hourly with transparent cost estimates provided upfront.

How is Challenor Gardiner regulated?

We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA No. 44865) and accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme and Lexcel v.6 Practice Management Standards.

Can you assist with urgent legal matters?

While we do not offer 24/7 services, we prioritise timely responses to urgent matters and provide clear guidance on emergency legal steps during office hours.

Do you offer home visits for legal services?

Yes, home visits are available for conveyancing and will-writing services, with additional travel time charges applied where necessary.

Reviews (6)

Write a Review

Alice Lofthouse

Dec 08, 2020 Report

Worst experience Ive ever had just for a simple transfer of the deeds with no equity transfer involved. Had to constantly email and ring them just to find out what stage they were at. They didnt reply to emails for weeks and came up with excuses on the phone. The two solicitors that were dealing with my case initially were awful, never replied, and then suddenly went on leave. I had to send an extra 700 just to make sure I could complete the next day to then be told it wasnt actually required... then took them over 2 weeks to send the money back after continuous chasing! It was so stressful

Tom Delaney

Oct 31, 2020 Report

Critical:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness
I was not their client but our vendors were. 10 months to complete a simple sale. Very poor performance, adding an unnecessary 7 months of stress to what should have been a quick transaction. Unable to recommend.

Lucy McClune

Aug 25, 2020 Report

Went with CG for our first home purchase. We were very disappointed. They gave incorrect advice several times, and at one stage caused us a great deal of stress and sleepless nights. I would unfortunately not use them again under any circumstances.
Edit Feb 2020: after seeing the response from Challenor below with yet more incorrect information, I felt compelled to add a bit more context. They told us if we used a portion of our mortgage for home repairs we would be breaking the law. When queried with Nationwide, they dismissed their advice instantly, and said we were in no danger of this. We

A. K.

Aug 21, 2020 Report

Professional, competent and efficient. Having read the other reviews I can confirm my experience has been very positive.

Jani Papa

Aug 09, 2020 Report

Sorry I didnt leave a review the first time I was just trying to be nice but since you are asking for it. I gave the above solicitor my conveyancing case after the lock down. I spoke with one of the solicitors she was really nice over the phone and even though the price was a bit higher than others I agreed. I started all the procedures for the house I called them again they told me I should contact them after my mortgage would be accepted by the bank. After my mortgage was accepted I was trying to contact them (I was calling for days) when I received a phone call by the sales advisor for

Natasha Marie Life Coaching

Aug 03, 2020 Report

The worst experience I've had. We Constantly had to contact them. They would take ages to get back to us. Once everything had been completed, I found out three months later they forgot to fill in a form which meant we had to pay them more money for a job they claimed to have completed. Very disappointed. If you want a stressful experience these are the solicitors for you.