SRA interventions

B M Solicitors
On 7 June 2010, the sub-committee of the Professional Regulation Panel of the SRA resolved to intervene into the practice of Ijaz Ahmad and Aamer Masood and into B M Solicitors, of 62 Barking Road, London E6 3BP.
John Gould of Russell-Cooke, 2 Putney Hill, London SW15 6AB, tel: 020 8394 6400, has been appointed to act as the SRA’s agent.
The grounds of intervention are:

• Ahmad and Masood have failed to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998; and
• The panel was satisfied that it was necessary to exercise the powers conferred by part II of schedule 1 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) (or any of them), in relation to B M Solicitors to protect the interests of the clients (or former or potential clients), of Masood and Ahmad or their firm or the interests of the ­beneficiaries of any trust of which Masood and/or Ahmad is or was a trustee.

Pursuant to the intervention, Ahmad’s and Masood’s practising ­certificates had been suspended with immediate effect.

R & S Law LLP
On 15 June 2010, the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the above-named practice of 72 Rookery Road, Birmingham B21 9NL, on the following grounds:

1. That there is reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Ravinder Balli in connection with his practice as solicitors practising as R & S Law LLP;
2. That Balli and R & S Law LLP have failed to comply with the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007, the Solicitors Indemnity Insurance Rules 2009 and the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998;
3. That it is necessary to exercise the powers of intervention in order to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of Balli or R & S Law LLP, or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which Balli or R & S Law LLP is or was a trustee.
Robert Capper of Harrison Clark,
5 Deansway, Worcester WR1 2JG,
tel: 01905 744 814, has been appointed as the SRA’s agent. The first date of attendance was 18 June 2010.

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

Norman Saville & Co
On 1 July 2010, the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the practices of Kiran Nahar and Farhat Malik-Masud at Norman Saville & Co and any other practice of which either is a principal. Nahar and Malik-Masud practised at 2 & 3 Bromley Street, Birmingham, West Midlands B9 4AN and at 47 Muswell Hill Broadway, London N10 3HA under the firm name Norman Saville & Co.

The reason for the intervention was that the sub-committee resolved that there was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Nahar in connection with her practice as a solicitor. The sub-committee further resolved that Nahar and Malik-Masud had failed to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998 and the Solicitors Code of Conduct. The sub-committee further resolved that it was necessary to exercise the intervention powers to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of Nahar and Malik-Masud and/or their firm Norman Saville & Co.

John Gould of Russell-Cooke, 2 Putney Hill, Putney, London SW15 6DB, tel: 020 8394 6400, has been appointed as the SRA’s agent. He and Nigel Coates of Russell-Cooke attended respectively at the Birmingham and London offices of Norman Saville & Co on 5 July 2010 and uplifted the practice papers from both of the offices.

The practising certificates of Nahar & Malik-Masud have been suspended with immediate effect by virtue of the intervention resolution. Both Nahar and Malik-Masud have indicated their intention to challenge the intervention in the High Court.

Vahib & Co
On 28 June 2010, the sub-committee resolved that it was satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under paragraph 1(1)(m) of part I of schedule 1 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of Isin Vahib, of Alco House, 435 Green Lanes London N4 1HA, or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which Vahib is or was a trustee.

David Newcombe of Foreman Laws, 25 Bancroft, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1JW, tel: 01462 458711, DX: 7102 Hitchin, has been appointed as the authority’s agent. The first date of attendance was 29 June 2010.
Vahib does not hold a current practising certificate.

Fryer Chandler
On 12 July 2010, the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the practice of Howard Fryer, who formerly practised at 11-12 Railway Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QS.

Tony Fisher of Fisher Jones Greenwood, Unit 1A, Charter Court, Newcomen Way, Severalls Business Park, Colchester CO4 9YA, tel: 01206 835 232, has been appointed to act as the SRA’s agent and he took possession of all Fryer Chandler practice papers on 13 July 2010.

The grounds for intervention are paragraphs 1(1)(a) and (c) of part I of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974, namely that there was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Fryer, and that he had failed to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998 and the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007.

Pursuant to the intervention, Fryer’s practising certificate has been suspended with immediate effect.

Pinacle Law Limited
On 15 June 2010, the sub-committee resolved that in relation to Pinacle Law Limited:
1. The committee was satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under paragraph 32(1)(a) of schedule 2 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985, namely that Pinacle Law Limited and Dina Rachelle Chern, a manager of Pinacle Law Limited, have failed to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998 (including but not limited to rules 1, 6, 7, 19, 22, 32 and 34 of the said rules), the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007 (including but not limited to rules 1, 4, 5, 12, 14 and 20 of the said rules), and the Solicitors Indemnity Insurance Rules 2009 (including but not limited to rules 10 and 17 of the said rules).
2. The committee was satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under paragraph 32(1)(e) of schedule 2 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985 to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of a recognised body,
Pinacle Law Limited, or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which the recognised body Pinacle Law Limited is or was a trustee.

In relation to Chern:
1. The committee was satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under paragraph 1(1)(c) of part I of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended), namely that Chern has failed to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998 (including but not limited to rules 1, 6, 7, 19, 22, 32 and 34 of the said rules), the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007 (including but not limited to rules 1, 4, 5, 12, 14 and 20 of the said rules), and the Solicitors Indemnity Insurance Rules 2009 (including but not limited to rules 10 and 17 of the said rules).
2. The committee was satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under paragraph 1(1)(m) of part I of schedule 1 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of Chern or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which Chern is or was a trustee.
Marion Vesey of Shacklocks of St Peter’s House, Bridge Street, Mansfield NG18 1AL, tel: 01623 423073, DX: 723580 Mansfield 10, has been appointed as the SRA’s agent. The first date of attendance was 18 June 2010.

Pinacle Law Ltd also trades from Ferrar House, 70 High Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 3DL, as Pinacle Law Ltd t/a Lee & Tallamy; Eagle Legal Ltd; Moeran Oughtred & Co; and Hunnybun & Sons. All the aforementioned firms are also subject to the intervention.

By virtue of section 91(2) of the Courts & Legal Services Act 1990, Chern’s practising certificate has been suspended with immediate effect. Chern has indicated her intention to challenge the committee’s decision to intervene into Pinacle Law Limited.

Dolphine Solicitors
On 3 August 2010, the committee resolved that it was satisfied that grounds for intervention into the above-named firm, of Unit 150 Camberwell Business Centre, 99-103 Lomond Grove, London SE5 7HN, existed under paragraph 1(1)(c) of part I of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) on the part of Kofi Agyeman and Kwasi Boakye-Yiadom as the committee was satisfied that they had failed to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998 and the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007.
Susan Dryden of Blake Lapthorn of New Kings Court, Tollgate, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh SO53 3LG, DX: 155850 Eastleigh 7, tel: 02380 908090, has been appointed as the SRA’s agent. The first date of attendance was 6 August 2010.

Both the practising certificates of Agyeman and Boakye-Yiadom have been suspended as a result of the intervention.

Richmond-Law
On 4 August 2010 the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the practice of Nadeem Akhtar Khan, who formerly practised at 344-354 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8PB.
David Jacobs of Stanley Tee, 6 High Street, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 2LU, tel: 01279 755200, has been appointed to act as the SRA’s agent.

The first date of attendance at the practice address was 9 August. Khan had vacated the premises and steps are being taken to obtain all client files and practice papers.

The grounds for intervention are paragraph 1(1)(c) of part I of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974, namely that Khan had failed to comply with the Solicitors Accounts Rules 1998 and the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007.

Pursuant to the intervention, Khan’s practising certificate has been suspended with immediate effect.

Shorrocks & Co
On 11 August 2010 the committee resolved to intervene into the practice of David Shorrocks, who formerly practised at Wharfside Chambers, Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 1UE.

John Owen of Gordons, 14 Piccadilly, Bradford, BD1 3LX, tel: 01274 202202, has been appointed to act as the SRA’s agent. The first date of attendance at the practice address was 13 August 2010 and all client files/practice papers were uplifted. The ground for intervention is paragraph 1(1)(m) of part I of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974, namely that the committee was satisfied that it was necessary to exercise the powers conferred by part II of schedule 1 in relation to Shorrocks to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of Shorrocks or his firm, or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which Shorrocks is or was a trustee. Shorrocks did not hold a practising certificate at the time of the intervention resolution.

First Legals
On 10 August 2010, the committee resolved that it was satisfied that grounds for intervention existed under paragraph 1(1)(m) of part I of schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of Colin Richard North, who formerly practised at Trent House, 17 Morley Street, Gainsborough, Lincs DN21 2NF, or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which North is or was a trustee.

Marion Vesey of Shacklocks, St Peter’s House, Bridge Street, Mansfield NG18 1AL, tel: 01623 423073, DX: 723580 Mansfield 10 has been appointed as the authority’s agent. The first date of attendance was 12 August 2010. North’s current practising certificate has not been suspended.

Vincent Doherty & Co
On 20 July 2010 the sub-committee resolved to intervene into the practice of Richard Adegbola Akinwale Adesakin and Babasoji Olatunji Doherty of Vincent Doherty & Co of 1 Park Road, London, NW1 6XN. The reason for the intervention was that the sub-committee was satisfied that there was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Adesakin & Doherty. They were also satisfied that both partners had breached the Solicitors Accounts Rules and Solicitors Code of Conduct. Lastly, the sub-committee decided that an intervention was necessary to protect the interests of clients or former clients of Adesakin and Doherty.

Philip Barden of Devonshires, 30 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7DT, has been appointed as the SRA’s agent. He attended at the office of Vincent Doherty & Co on 21 July and uplifted all practice papers from the office.