SRA shuts down Liverpool firm amid dishonesty concerns

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has announced an intervention into a Liverpool firm after raising suspicions about the conduct of its manager.

The regulator shut down GW Law Limited last week and suspended director Christopher Williams, citing reasons to suspect dishonesty on his part. It is also alleged by the SRA that Williams had failed to comply with accounts rules and the code of conduct.

North-west firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP has been appointed as the intervening agent to handle the firm’s affairs.

GW Legal is the trading name of GW Law and traces its roots back 40 years. It was founded as Goldsmith Williams in July 1984 when it specialised in domestic conveyancing from two offices.

Senior partner Simon Cottrell (who is not subject to any SRA action) joined the firm in 1986 and it moved into personal injury work. The business continued to grow and to win regular awards before rebranding to GW Legal in 2017 and moving to new custom-designed office space in Chapel Street in Liverpool’s business district. It now offers services in conveyancing, remortgages, equity release, personal injury and wills and probate.

On the GW website, Williams is described as ‘instrumental in the success of GWlegal’ and continuing ‘to take a leading role in the strategic development of the firm’.

According to Companies House, the business had three directors until recently: it is understood Cottrell resigned last month, while Arunthathy Vigneswaran resigned as a director last week, a day before the intervention.

The most recent accounts show that by the end of July 2023 the firm had total net assets of around £825,000. Current assets had quadrupled in a year to more than £2.2m, with long-term debts rising from nothing to almost £450,000. The firm employed 32 people as of July 2023.

Companies House records also show that GW Law Limited had an outstanding fixed charge with now-defunct lender VFS Legal. The charge was registered in May 2023, around two months before VFS entered administration.

The phone number for GW Legal goes straight through to a message service for Stephensons. The firm’s Twitter feed appears to still be active, with messages posted in the past week wishing various organisations a Merry Christmas, while also promoting its legal services.

GW the fourth Liverpool firm to be subject to SRA intervention this year, following Langton Law and BPS Solicitors in August and Abensons Law in January.