Solicitors with a legal group which handles almost a quarter of all house sales in Edinburgh say they are unfazed by news that internet giant Google may move into the property market.

The ELPG is made up of five leading property solicitors which account for around 25% of house sales through the respected ESPC.

John Lints, senior partner at ELPG member firm, the Lints Partnership, said property experts in Scotland would be less worried about the arrival of the internet search giant than those south of the Border.

He added: “The market here in Scotland has always been significantly different from England. South of the border there is a far greater network of estate agency only businesses and they may be worried about a free Google portal.

“However, here the property market is dominated by legal firms which have also developed a very strong estate agency function. The important point is that the legal service remains at the very heart of the entire process.

ELPG enjoys high-profile PR in Edinburgh

“It is a compelling model which people trust. Not only are you getting the best legal services, but extremely professional estate agency services on the back of it.

“Of course no-one in the sector can afford to be complacent, nor will we be. Our firms are constantly looking at ways to improve, to adapt according to market changes and customer needs.

“Technology is certainly a very big part of what is driving change, but it is unlikely Google will ever end the need for a lawyer in a Scottish house sale transaction.

“We will continue to offer the very best services we can, to keep our customers happy and I think that if Google is going to make any significant impact on property markets, it is more likely to happen in places other than Scotland.”

The other ELPG members are Neilsons Solicitors and Estate Agents, Warners Solicitors and Estate Agents, Drummond Miller LLP and Leslie Deans & Co.