SRA interventions

Dixon Raven & Marsdens
On 11 September 2009 the Panel of Adjudicators Sub-Committee resolved to intervene in the above-named practice on the basis that they were satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under paragraphs 1(1)(a), (c) and (m) of part I of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974, namely that there was reason to suspect ­dishonesty on the part of Peter Anthony Dixon and Christopher John Raven, who practised respectively at 36 Union Street, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0QE and 61 Towngate, Leyland, Lancashire, PR25 2FQ; that they had failed to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998; and that it was necessary to exercise powers to protect the interests of clients or former or potential clients of Mr Dixon and Mr Raven or their firm.

Paul Marsh of DWF, 5 St Paul’s Square, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9AE, 0151 907 3000, has been appointed to act as the intervention agent.

The first date of attendance at the practice addresses in Leyland and Southport was 15 September.

The practising certificates of Mr Dixon and Mr Raven have been suspended.

Mayfair Chamberlain
On 1 October 2009 the committee resolved to intervene into the practice of Elvis Ejikeme Goodluck Nwachukwu deceased, who practised at Suite 101, 30 Great Guildford Street, London Bridge, London SE1 0HS under the firm name Mayfair Chamberlain.

David Redfern of Stanley Tee, 6 High Street, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts CM23 2LU, 01279 710603, has been appointed to act as the SRA’s agent.

The grounds of intervention are delay on the part of the personal representatives of Mr Nwachukwu in connection with his practice.

The committee also resolved to intervene to protect clients’ interests.

Barnard & Co
On 4 November 2009, the committee resolved to intervene into the remnants of Barnard & Co and any other practices or former practices of Michael Lester Graham Barnard, who practised at 77 North Street, Downend, Bristol BS16 5SE.

The reason for the intervention was that the committee resolved that it was necessary to exercise the powers conferred by part II of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974 in relation to Mr Barnard to protect the interest of clients (or former or potential clients) of Mr Barnard or his firm, or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which Mr Barnard is or was a trustee.

Andrew Spooner of Harrison Clark, 5 Deansway, Worcester WR1 2JG, 01905 612001, has been appointed to act as the authority’s agent.

The first day of attendance was 9 November 2009.

Mr Barnard allowed the papers to be lifted and did not indicate on the day of attendance that it was his intention to challenge the intervention.

Wolstenholmes of Cheadle & Birmingham
On 23 December 2009, the committee resolved to intervene into the practices of Imran Hussain, Helen Murgatroyd, Bobby Shabbir, Bilal Khawaja and Nasir Ilyas at Wolstenholmes and into Wolstenholmes of 227 Finney Lane, Heald Green, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 3QB and 1 Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD.

Kieran Walshe of DWF of Centurion House, 129 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3AA, 0161 603 5044, has been appointed to act as the SRA’s agent and took possession of Wolstenholmes practice papers on 24 and 28 December 2009.

Pursuant to the intervention, all the above-named members’ practising certificates have been suspended with immediate effect. The grounds of intervention are suspected dishonesty and breaches of the Solicitors Accounts Rules and Solicitors Code of Conduct. The grounds are also directed at the recognised body.

Boatfield & Co
On 17 November 2009, the committee resolved to intervene into Vanda Boatfield’s practice of Watford WD17 on the following grounds: failure to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998; failure to comply with the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007; bankruptcy; incapacity; and to exercise powers of intervention to protect client interests.

Michael Giddins of Lester Aldridge, Russell House, Oxford Road, Bournemouth BH8 8EX, DX: 7623 Bournemouth, 01202 786161, has been appointed as the authority’s agent. The first date of attendance was 19 November 2009.

Mrs Boatfield’s practising certificate has been suspended since her bankruptcy on 9 March 2009.

Hunt Kidd Law Firm
On 5 November 2009, the committee resolved to intervene in the above recognised body of Alderman Fenwick’s House, 98-100 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 6SQ, on the basis that they were satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under paragraphs 1(1)(a)(i) and (c) of part I of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended), namely that there was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Kenneth Hunt and Barbara Gayton; and that they had failed to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998. In addition, the committee was satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under paragraphs 32(1)(a) and (d) of schedule 2 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985, namely that Hunt Kidd Law Firm had failed to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998, and that there was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of its officers, Mr Hunt and Mrs Gayton.

Nigel Coates of Russell Cooke, 2 Putney Hill, London SW15 6AB, 020 8789 9111, has been appointed to act as the intervention agent.

The first date of attendance at the practice address was 9 November 2009 and all client files/accounting records were uplifted.

The practising certificates of both Mr Hunt and Mrs Gayton have been suspended with immediate effect.