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Escrow Services UK
FCA-Regulated Escrow for Law Firms

FCA-Regulated Escrow for M&A, Property, and Commercial Deals. Hold funds securely until conditions are met. Quick setup, flexible structures, and full transparency - trusted by 40+ of the UK's top 100 law firms.

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As one of the UK's leading escrow service providers for law firms, Shieldpay has processed over £18 billion in escrow transactions for M&A, property, and commercial deals across the United Kingdom. Our FCA-regulated platform provides UK law firms with a modern, compliant alternative to traditional escrow agents.

£18bn+

Processed

We have processed over £18 billion in escrow transactions, supporting hundreds of law firms with M&A, property, and commercial deals.

40+

Top 100 Law Firms

Trusted by 40+ of the UK's top 100 law firms for complex escrow services.

FX

FX for global reach

Send funds to payees internationally with transparent fees and agreements, thanks to our FX capability.

Escrow Explained

What is escrow?

Escrow is a financial arrangement where a neutral third party holds funds securely until agreed conditions are met. In UK legal transactions, escrow is commonly used for:

  • M&A deals - Holding purchase price funds, indemnity holdbacks, or earnout payments
  • Property transactions - Securing completion funds or deposits pending conditions
  • Commercial agreements - Managing milestone payments or dispute resolutions

Shieldpay Escrow Service is an FCA-regulated solution for holding funds securely in ring-fenced accounts held with banking partners (Citi, ClearBank). We act as the trusted third party, verifying all transaction parties, safeguarding funds, and releasing payments only when contractual obligations are satisfied.

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Why Shieldpay

Why law firms choose our escrow service

Traditional escrow providers often create more friction than they solve:

  • Lengthy contract negotiations and setup times (weeks or months)
  • Rigid deal structures that don't adapt to complex transactions
  • Manual KYC processes that delay deal completion
  • Limited visibility into fund status and transaction progress

We built our escrow service for the speed and complexity of modern UK legal transactions — with setup in days, flexible structures that adapt to your deal requirements, and real-time visibility for all parties.

Whether you're managing M&A holdbacks, property completions, or commercial agreements with conditional payments, our FCA-regulated escrow service provides the security, transparency, and efficiency you need.

Why choose Shieldpay escrow?

Quick, Flexible Setup

Set up escrow in days, not weeks - critical for time-sensitive M&A and property transactions. Our flexible structures adapt to complex deal requirements: single or multi-party agreements, conditional releases, staged payments, and longstop dates.

Full Transparency & Control

Real-time visibility into fund status via online portal. Custom approval workflows ensure you maintain control over release conditions. Full audit trails and transaction history support regulatory reporting and dispute resolution.

FCA-Regulated Security

Funds held in ring-fenced, safeguarded accounts with banking partners (Citi, ClearBank). ISO 27001 certified security, Confirmation of Payee fraud protection, and comprehensive professional indemnity insurance provide multiple layers of protection.

Ready to simplify your escrow? Talk to our team to see how Shieldpay works for your deal.

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Hold funds in escrow to meet your deal requirements

Recent real estate transaction with payments facilitated by Shieldpay’s Escrow application:

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Fast and secure solutions to suit your deal

Our Verify, Hold and Disburse product capabilities are flexible across any deal profile from M&A, to supply chain payments, capital raising, and real estate transactions. We offer protection and risk mitigation with funds safeguarded in tier 1 banks. Your point of contact will always be on hand to provide guidance on deal structuring to ensure the outcome you need from your transaction.

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Case studies

Explore how Shieldpay has transformed the way our customers process complex payments

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Case study: Pogust Goodhead

Finding a way to quickly and securely pay thousands of claimants

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Case study: Shieldpay for M&A

International payee management and compliance risk

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Ready to speak to a payments expert?

Get in touch to find out how Shieldpay can support your firm's payments on what you’re working on today.
Save time, reduce risk and provide enhanced experiences to your customers.
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FAQ

FAQ: Escrow Services UK

Common questions about Shieldpay's escrow service — from regulation and setup to costs and deal structures.

Escrow is a financial arrangement where a neutral third party (like Shieldpay) holds funds securely until agreed conditions are met. In UK legal transactions, escrow is commonly used for M&A deals, property completions, and commercial agreements where funds must be held conditionally.
Yes. Shieldpay Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (firm reference number 770210). All escrow funds are held in ring-fenced, safeguarded accounts with tier-1 banking partners.
Shieldpay escrow can typically be set up in 3–5 business days, compared to traditional escrow providers which often take weeks or months. We provide expert guidance on deal structuring to ensure fast, compliant setup.
Common escrow use cases include M&A transactions (holdbacks, earnouts, completion funds), property transactions (deposits, conditional payments), commercial agreements (milestone payments), and dispute resolutions requiring neutral fund holding.
Escrow is for conditional fund holding until specific conditions are met (e.g., M&A holdback until warranty claims period expires). Payment Account (TPMA) is for ongoing client money management. Many law firms use both — for example, using escrow for holdbacks and TPMA for general client funds.
Escrow fees vary based on transaction value, complexity, and duration. Shieldpay offers competitive, transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Contact our team for a quote tailored to your specific escrow requirements.

Still have questions? Speak with one of our escrow specialists — we're happy to walk you through how it works for your deal.

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