COMPLYLEX™ has been devised by a team of property professionals who came together with a mission to demystify legislation and give their fellow professionals an affordable, easy way to comply with the legal requirements governing their sectors.

The directors have combined their extensive experience to make COMPLYLEX™ available across a growing range of sectors where compliance is key. Initially, we are concentrating on helping those in residential lettings and sales in England and Wales.

Michael Stoop FRICS, FNAEA
Executive Chairman

Michael started in Estate Agency with Winkworth & Co in their Knightsbridge office in September 1976 as a junior negotiator. By 1979 Michael was appointed Manager of the Winkworth Fulham office and when the company converted to a franchise business, he became the first franchisee within the group, purchasing the Fulham office in 1982, opening a second branch in Chiswick in 1984. By 1986, having run two very successful franchise businesses, Michael became Managing Director of Winkworth and along with Simon Agace the Chairman, built up a network of 48 franchised offices. Michael sold his franchises in the early 90’s and left the Winkworth group in April 1992. He joined the Legal & General Group in September 1992 where he was instrumental in setting up Legal & General Franchising Ltd. Michael has witnessed a lot of change within the Corporate ownership by L&G of its Estate Agency Network but successfully converted the corporate estate agency business into a wholly franchised network, in excess of 100 branches. L&G sold its franchise network to Martin & Co PLC in 2014 and Michael became their Group Managing Director on completion of the transaction. Michael retired from his position in 2016 as group managing director at what was formerly Martin & Co and is now The Property Franchise Group. Michael joined TPO as a Director in November 2003 and was a member TPO Disciplinary Standards Committee from 2008-2012. He became a Trustee of the Estate Agents Foundation (Agents Giving) in 2010 and appointed as chairman in December 2018. Michael is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; a Fellow of the National Association of Estate Agents; a Member of the Association of Residential Lettings Agents and holds various NED roles within the property industry as well as various consultancy roles. He is also chairman of the newly formed TPO Industry Forum.

Caroline Kenny DipRLM, FARLA (Retd)
Consultant

Caroline has over twenty years’ experience in the UK residential lettings industry, having worked for a number of corporate, independent and franchise agencies, as well as The UK Association of Letting Agents (UKALA), The National Landlords Association (NLA) (now the National Residential Landlords Association NRLA) and ARLA Propertymark. She is an Associate Tutor for MOL Learn and an advisor/consultant to clients within the UK Private Rented and Build to Rent sectors. Currently also studying for her law degree (LLB Hons), Caroline is also a Fellow of ARLA Propertymark (ret'd) and holder of the prestigious Diploma in Residential Lettings and Property Management.

Marveen Smith
Legal Director

Marveen Smith was one of the founders of PainSmith Solicitors in 2001 and has been the only Principal of PainSmith Solicitors a niche firm who are specialists in property law since 2006. Marveen has a background in accountancy and tax; forging a second career in law by qualifying as a Solicitor before starting her own practice. As well as working in her legal practice daily Marveen is one of the trainers for ARLA and other organisations presenting legal courses throughout the country; giving presentations at regional meetings for ARLA; and at seminars for landlords. Marveen has made regular appearances on Money Box for Radio 4 and Watchdog where she endeavoured to balance the one sided view of letting agents that can be presented by the media, as well as disseminating information to enable landlords to act in a more professional capacity. Marveen was the first person to establish a legal helpline for landlords and agents; and to offer both standard and bespoke documents designed specifically for the lettings industry. Today PainSmith offers a wide choice of legal documents to satisfy the requirements of both relocation companies, letting agents and landlords.

John Crocker
IT Director
John has been involved in software development and database application design since qualifying in electrical and electronic engineering in 1980. After many years working as a freelance application developer and consultant to some of the UK's largest organisations and academic bodies, John eventually took up a permanent role as IT manager and senior software developer for a UKAS-accredited inspection body. His involvement with the COMPLYLEX™ project is, arguably, the pinnacle of his career.