Interventions

On 20 June 2024, the SRA intervened into the remainder of the firm Walkers Commercial Solicitors Ltd, formerly of 31 Bootham, York YO30 7BT. The firm went into liquidation on 1 September 2021 and Richard Kenworthy and Julian Pitts of Begbies Traynor were appointed as liquidators on the same day.

The ground for intervention was: a relevant insolvency event occurred in relation to the firm when it was a recognised body – paragraph 32(1)(c) schedule 2 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985.

No intervention agent has been appointed.

On 25 June 2024, a single adjudicator resolved to intervene into the remainder of Legal UK Services Ltd, formerly of Lynnfield House, Church Street, Altrincham WA14 4DZ.

The ground for intervention was: a relevant insolvency event had occurred in relation to the firm (paragraph 1(2)(c) of schedule 14 to the Legal Services Act 2007). No intervention agent has been appointed.

On 1 July 2024, a single adjudicator resolved to intervene into the remainder of Centenary Law Ltd, formally of Kemp House, 152-160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX.

The ground for intervention was: a relevant insolvency event had occurred in relation to the firm (paragraph 1(2)(c) of schedule 14 to the Legal Services Act 2007). No intervention agent has been appointed.

On 3 July 2024 a single adjudicator resolved to intervene into McDermott Smith Law Ltd based at St Hugh’s House, Trinity Road, Bootle L20 3QQ. The first date of attendance was 5 July 2024.

The ground for intervention was: a relevant insolvency event had occurred in relation to the firm which was a recognised body (paragraph 32(1)(c) of schedule 2 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985).

Sean Joyce of Stephensons Solicitors LLP, Wigan Investment Centre, Waterside Drive, Wigan WN3 5BA (tel: 0333 321 4401; email: interventions@stephensons.co.uk) has been appointed to act as the Society’s agent.

On 10 July 2024, the adjudication panel resolved to intervene into the practice of Talha Ahmad, practising at A&T Legal Ltd t/a Leaside Law, Office 1, Church Lane Chambers, 11-12 Church Lane, London E11 1HG.

The grounds for intervention into Ahmad’s practice at A&T Legal Ltd t/a Leaside Law were:

• Ahmad had failed to comply with the SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs, the SRA Code of Conduct for Firms and the SRA Indemnity Insurance Rules which are rules made under sections 31 and 32 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (paragraph 1(1)(c) schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974 as amended).
• It was necessary to intervene to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of Ahmad (paragraph 1(1)(m) schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974).

The grounds for intervention into A&T Legal Ltd t/a Leaside Law were:

• Ahmad as the manager of the firm had failed to comply with the SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs, the SRA Code of Conduct for Firms and the SRA Indemnity Insurance Rules which are rules applicable to the firm and Ahmad under section 9 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 as amended (paragraph 32(1)(a) schedule 2 to the act).
• It was necessary to intervene to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of the firm and/or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which the firm is or was a trustee (paragraph 32(1)(e) schedule 2 to the act).

Chris Evans of Lester Aldridge, Russell House, Oxford Road, Bournemouth BH8 8EX (email: Intervention.Enquiries@LA-Law.com; tel: 01202 786 341) has been instructed as the Society’s agent. The first date of attendance was 12 July 2024.

Ahmad’s practising certificate has been suspended as a result of the intervention.

On 7 July 2024, the adjudicator resolved to intervene into the above-named firm and into the practice of Javeria Ijaz at Novi Law Ltd, 1 The Wharf, 16 Bridge Street, Birmingham B1 2JS.

The grounds for intervention into the practice of Ijaz were:

• There was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Ijaz in connection with her practice at the firm – paragraph 1(1)(a)(i) of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended); and
• Ijaz had failed to comply with the rules made under sections 31 and 32 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) – paragraph 1(1)(c) of schedule 1 to the act.

The grounds of intervention into Novi Law Ltd were:

• There was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Ijaz in connection with the firm’s business – paragraph 1(2)(d) of schedule 14 to the Legal Services Act 2007; and
• One or more of the terms of the firm’s licence have not been complied with – paragraph 1(2)(a) of schedule 14 to the Legal Services Act 2007.

Emma Porter of Shakespeare Martineau LLP, SHMA SRA Interventions, PO Box 18228, Birmingham B2 2HX (email: Interventions@shma.co.uk) has been appointed to act as intervention agent. The first date of attendance was 10 July 2024.

Ijaz’s practising certificate has been suspended as a result of the intervention.

On 15 July 2024, the SRA intervened into the remains of the recognised sole practice of Jane Liles, being Jane Liles Solicitors of 36 Kenton Lane, Kenton HA3 8TX.

The ground for intervention was: it was necessary to intervene to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of Liles (paragraph 1(1)(m) of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended)).

Liles’s practising certificate is not suspended by reason of the intervention.

Emma Porter of Shakespeare Martineau, SHMA SRA Interventions, PO Box 18228, Birmingham B2 2HX (tel no: 0300 247 2470; email: interventions@shma.co.uk) has been appointed as intervention agent.

On 15 July 2024, a single adjudicator resolved to intervene into the remainder of the practice of Harvey Landau, who practised as H Landau & Co, formerly of Unit 8, 3rd Floor Merit House, 508 Edgware Road, London NW9 5AB. The firm closed on 30 September 2013.

The ground for intervention was: it is necessary to intervene to protect the interests of clients or former or potential clients of the firm (paragraph 1(1)(m) of schedule 1 – Part I to the Solicitors Act 1974).

No agent has been appointed.

The SRA will be making arrangements to collect the remaining practice papers.