A North Lincolnshire firm has been closed because of alleged failures to comply with accounts rules, the Solicitors Regulation Authority said today. De Vita Platt of High Street, Barton-upon-Humber, was intervened into to protect the interests of clients.
The practising certificates of partners Jonathan De Vita and Christopher Platt were suspended as a result of the intervention. Both were last year referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal over allegations including causing or allowing a shortage to arise on the firm’s client account. They are also accused of failing to supervise a member of staff at the firm between 2010 and 2014.
The allegations are unproven and are due to be heard by the tribunal in March.
Intervention means the SRA has closed a firm with immediate effect. The regulator said it will stop the firm from operating, take possession of all documents and papers held by the firm, and take possession of all money held by the firm, including clients’ money. John Owen of Bradford firm Gordons has been appointed as the intervening agent.
The SRA said its records identify the firm as Quality Solicitors De Vita Platt. However, no firm of that name appears on Quality Solicitors’ list of members and the offices do not carry Quality Solicitors branding.
A QualitySolicitors spokesperson said that the firm had been part of the QS Network but left in 2015 and apparently failed to register leaving the network with the SRA.
