The solicitor in a sale and purchase transaction

Nicholas Chang: A prudent consumer should always consider retaining separate independent legal representation and to pay the appropriate fees to ensure his interest is preserved by a proper and competent professional. After all, as the old English adage goes:

WHO does a solicitor represent?

It is not untypical for only one solicitor to act in a transaction for the sale and purchase of property. But who does the solicitor act for? The buyer or the seller or, both? Parties to such transactions may often be confused as to who the sole solicitor acts for. However, it is not this issue that we are examining in this article.