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Setfords Law Ltd
Ernesto Chao

Setfords Law Ltd

Ernesto Chao

CONSULTANT SOLICITOR

4.0

Accepting new clients via ReviewSolicitors

I qualified as a solicitor in September 2012 and I specialise in residential property. Covering sale/ purchase of existing freehold and leasehold properties, new build plot sales/ purchase, assignment of contracts and sub-sales, and property finance.

Setfords Law Ltd

Regulated by: The Solicitors Regulation Authority
Regulator ID: 503741
Based in Guildford, Surrey
Licensed for 14 years

Accepting new clients via ReviewSolicitors

Setfords Law Ltd

Regulated by: The Solicitors Regulation Authority
Regulator ID: 503741
Based in Guildford, Surrey
Licensed for 14 years

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Ernesto Chao

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4.0

Very Good

1 Reviews

Value for
Money

Value for money: 80%

Value for money

Setfords Law

80%

National Average

83%

About this score

This rating is based on verified client feedback and compares how this firm’s value for money is perceived against the national average. In legal services, value for money is not about being the cheapest option, but about whether clients feel the service, expertise, and outcome justified the cost. This comparison helps place client experiences in context when choosing a law firm.

Success
Rate

Satisfied with outcome: 95%+

Satisfied with outcome

Setfords Law

100%

National Average

82%

About this score

This rating is based on client feedback and compares how satisfied people were with the result of their legal matter against the national average for similar legal services. While every case is different and outcomes can depend on the law, the facts, and decisions made by courts or tribunals, this comparison is designed to be like for like. When a firm has a large number of reviews, individual case differences tend to balance out over time. This makes the national average a useful benchmark for understanding how often clients feel the result achieved was fair and appropriate for their situation. Even small differences from the average can therefore reflect a meaningful difference in the overall standard of legal service provided.

Would
Recommend

Would recommend to friends and family: 95%+

Would recommend to friends and family

Setfords Law

100%

National Average

81%

About this score

This score shows how likely clients are to recommend this law firm to friends or family, based on verified reviews and compared with the national average. In legal matters, recommendations are usually based on trust, clarity of advice, and how supported clients felt throughout their case. This comparison helps show how consistently a firm meets those expectations.

Communication 4.0/5

Initial Impressions 4.0/5

Approachability 4.0/5

Documentation Accuracy 4.0/5

Legal Knowledge 4.0/5

Value for money 4.0/5

Expertise

Commercial Property

Housing & Property

See all 2 practice areas

Areas of law Ernesto Chao practices

personal

Housing & Property

Exclusivity and lock-out agreements
Extending your Lease
Freehold Enfranchisement
Housing Associations
Housing disputes
Housing Management
Injunctions
Investment and buy to let properties
Landlord and Tenant
Lease Extensions
Leasehold properties
Matrimonial transfers
New home purchases and sales
Option agreements and conditional contracts
Planning
Possession and repossession proceedings
Property Disputes
Residential Conveyancing
Restrictive Covenants, Easements and Wayleaves
Right of First Refusal
Right of Way and Rights to Light
Right to Manage
Second charges
Service Charge Disputes
Service Charge Recovery
Tenancy Breaches, Injunctions and Forfeiture Claims
Tenant Eviction
Transfer of title
Transfers of equity
Transfers of parts of land
Unpaid Rent, Service or Ground Charges
Purchase and Sale
Housing Disrepair
Remortgaging
Neighbour Disputes
Renting and Tenancy Agreements
Repossessions
Anti-social Behaviour
Boundary Disputes
Buying at auction
Declarations of trusts
Deeds of easements, variation, deeds of rectifications
Deeds of Gifts
Dilapidation Claims
Evicting Squatters and Trespassers

business

Commercial Property

Commercial Leases
Commercial mortgages
Developer disputes
Development plot sales
Finance
Investment purchases and Buy to Let
Landlord and tenant
Environmental policy law
Planning law
Purchase of development land
Rights of way issues
Sales or purchases of shops, factories, warehouses, offices and licensed premises
Purchase and Sale Of Commercial Property

Experience

Gcl Solicitors

Assistant

Until October 2019
Gateley Plc

Employee

Until July 2024

Experience

Gcl Solicitors

Assistant

Until October 2019
Gateley Plc

Employee

Until July 2024
Setfords Law

Solicitor

July 2024 - Present 2 years and 3 months

Languages spoken

English
Spanish
Portuguese

Contact

1483577091

echao@setfords.co.uk

https://www.setfords.co.uk/our-people/profile/ernesto_chao/

Opening hours

Monday	09:00–17:00
Tuesday	09:00–17:00
Wednesday	09:00–17:00
Thursday	09:00–17:00
Friday	09:00–17:00
Saturday	(Closed)
Sunday	(Closed)

74 North Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4AW

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Setfords Law Ltd

4.9 | 17868 Reviews

This law firm has 2 branches

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Head office

74 North Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4AW

171 Solicitors

Visit Setfords Law Ltd in 74 North Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4AW

46 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1JE

1 Solicitors

Visit Setfords Law Ltd in 46 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1JE

Reviews

4.0 /5

1 Reviews

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Margaret Hayes

Verified

This review was submitted by a verified client of Setfords Law.

23 Jun 2026

Housing & Property

House Buying

Setfords were very professional and ensured the purchase of the house we were buying went through smoothly.

Legal experts tagged in
this review

Ernesto Chao

Ella Parsons

A representative from Setfords Law responded to this review

25/06/2026

Dear Margaret, Great to hear that Ernesto and Ella were able to ensure such a smooth purchase throughout. Thank you for your kind words! Kind regards, Setfords

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Ernesto Chao

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Gateley Plc

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