SRA interventions

Ash Solicitors
On 9 April 2010, the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the remnants of Ash Solicitors, of 7 Back Row, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3PF.

The sub-committee also resolved that it was necessary to exercise the powers conferred by part II of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974 in relation to Christine Billany. The reason for intervention was to protect client interests.

Neal Boland of Stephensons, 24 Lord Street, Leigh, Lancashire WN7 1AB, 01942 777 777, DX 22513 Leigh, has been appointed to act as the SRA’s agent. The first date of attendance was 13 April. Billany allowed the papers to be lifted and did not indicate on the date of attendance that it was her intention to challenge the intervention. Billany does not hold a current practising certificate.

Richard Connor Solicitors
On 13 April 2010, the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the practice of Richard George Connor who practised at 2 Brockenhurst Road, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 8ED, under the firm name Richard Connor Solicitors.

The reason for the intervention was that the sub-committee resolved that Connor has acted as a solicitor at a time when he did not have a practising certificate which was in force.

Simon Loveday of Vizards Wyeth, Asia House, 31-33 Lime Street, London EC3M 7HT, 020 7400 9999, DX 165, London/Chancery Lane, has been appointed to act as the SRA’s agent. A representative of the agent attended the office of Richard Connor Solicitors on 16 and 19 April and uplifted the practice papers from the office. Connor did not have a current practising certificate at the date of the intervention resolution.

Mohammed Khalil and Muhammed Irfanullah and SMK & Company Solicitors
On 22 April 2010 the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the practices of Mohammed Khalil and Muhammed Irfanullah and into the recognised body SMK & Company Solicitors Ltd, of 59 Bradford Street, Walsall WS1 3QA and 421 Stratford Road, Birmingham B11 4JZ.

Jane Willetts of Townshends, Cornwall House, 31 Lionel Street, Birmingham B31 1AP, 0121 214 1540, has been appointed to act as the SRA’s agent. She took possession of all SMK practice papers on 26 April 2010. The grounds of intervention are breaches of the Solicitors Accounts Rules and Code of Conduct and to protect the interests of clients. Irfanullah is a registered foreign lawyer and therefore does not have a current practising certificate. Pursuant to the intervention Khalil’s practising certificate has been suspended with immediate effect.

Anderson & Co
On 6 May 2010, the sub-committee resolved to intervene into Ian James Anderson’s practice, of 6 Mortimer Street, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH41 5EU and of 20a Sherbourne Square, Huyton, Liverpool L36 9UR, on the following grounds:
(1) Failure to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998; and
(2) To exercise powers of intervention to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients).
Neal Boland of Stephensons, 24 Lord Street, Leigh, Lancashire WN7 1AB, tel: 01942 777 777, has been appointed as the SRA’s agent. The first date of attendance was 11 May 2010.

By virtue of section 91(2) of the Courts & Legal Services Act 1990, Anderson’s practising certificate has been suspended with immediate effect.

J R Jones
On Friday 7 May 2010, the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the practices of Tasneem Raza and Minal Kantilal Popat, who practised at 58 Uxbridge Road, London W5 2ST under the firm name J R Jones.
Guy Osborn of Osbornes, Livery House, 9 Pratt Street, London NW1 0AE, tel: 020 7681 8667, has been appointed as the authority’s agent.

The practising certificate of Raza has been suspended. Popat’s practising certificate has not been suspended. The ground for intervention is that the sub-committee was satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under 1(1)(c), namely failure to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998 on the part of both partners.

• This firm has no connection whatsoever with J R Jones Solicitors in Birmingham.

Cameron Solicitors
On 11 May 2010, the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the practice of Stuart Gemmell McPhail, who practised at 264b High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire HP4 1AQ.

David Jacobs of Stanley Tee, 6 High Street, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 2LU, tel: 01279 755 200, has been appointed to act as the SRA’s agent. The first date of attendance at the practice address was 14 May 2010 and the SRA is in the process of locating the practice papers. The SRA confirmed that the grounds for intervention are paragraph 1(1)(k) of part I of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974, namely that the committee was satisfied that McPhail has acted as a solicitor at a time when he did not have a practising certificate which was in force. McPhail did not hold a practising certificate at the time of the intervention.

Woolwich Lander & Savage
On 13 May 2010, the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the above-named practice. Alan David Savage formerly practised at 56a Allerton Road, Mossley Hill, Liverpool, Merseyside L18 1LW under the firm name Woolwich Lander & Savage.

The reason for the intervention was that Savage was adjudged bankrupt on 4 May 2010.

Stuart Farr of Laytons, 22 St John Street, Manchester, Lancashire M3 4EB, tel: 0161 2141 600, DX 14382, Manchester, has been appointed as the authority’s agent. He attended at the office of Woolwich Lander & Savage on 18 May 2010 and uplifted the practice papers.

Heenans Solicitors
On 28 May 2010 the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the practice of Michelle Anne Heenan and Andrew Claude Chadwick of Heenans Solicitors of 59 High Street, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 4BQ & 5 Brook Street, Daventry, NN11 4GG.

The reason for the intervention was that the committee resolved that it was necessary to protect the interests of clients or former clients of Mrs Heenan and Mr Chadwick. Peter Beddoes of Wright Hassall of Olympus Avenue, Leamington Spa, CV34 6BF, tel: 01926 886688, has been appointed as the authority’s agent. He attended at the offices of Heenans Solicitors on 2 June 2010 and uplifted the practice papers from the premises.