An historic Kent firm has been shut down on the basis of suspected dishonesty from its fashion designer owner and director. Jarmans Solicitors, based in Sittingbourne, had played an important role in its community, sponsoring the town’s football stadium and supporting local charities.
But the Solicitors Regulation Authority revealed today it had immediately shut down the practice, citing an unspecified reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of owner Dorota Newman. The regulator said the firm and non-solicitor Newman had not complied with the terms of their licence as required by the Legal Services Act.
Dorset firm Lester Aldridge has been appointed as intervening agent to handle the firm’s affairs. Jarmans' bank accounts have been frozen and all monies held in those accounts transferred to the SRA on behalf of clients.
Newman is listed on Companies House as a fashion designer and her Linkedin profile states that she has been a fashion and interior designer for more than 20 years. She became owner of the Jarmans business in January 2022.
Jarmans has been operating in some form for 150 years after starting out as Winch Greensted and Winch. Its website tells clients they can receive ‘City of London expertise at Kentish rates’, and the firm practised in personal and commercial law.
Under previous owners, the firm signed a two-year sponsorship with Sittingbourne FC to lend its name to the Jarmans Solicitors Stadium. The money was invested to fund a new football academy and additional youth teams, as well as develop disabled and walking football programmes.
Jarmans also supported local charities Tree of Hope, Demelza, the Street Soccer Foundation and Beams, and was a founding member of the Sports Business Club, a movement for business leaders to help promote grassroots sports.
According to financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2022, Jarmans had 10 staff and was running with net liabilities of more than £51,000. The business had £466 cash reserves.
