The Solicitors Regulation Authority has moved to shut down Coops Law, an offshoot of Asons Solicitors, which the regulator closed earlier this year.

In an announcement today the SRA said it was necessary to intervene to protect the interests of clients and there was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of director Irfan Akram in connection with the business.

The practising certificate of Munir Majid, a co-director, has been automatically suspended.

An intervention means the SRA has closed the firm with immediate effect and stopped it from operating.

In a notice, the SRA said: ‘The SRA will now complete its investigation and decide on the appropriate course of action. There is no timescale for how long this work will take.’

The firm is based in the Churchgate area of Bolton, as was its predecessor Asons. In March, the SRA also intervened into Asons. When Coops was launched a few weeks after it was billed as a ‘fresh start’.

Irfan Akram is also listed as a director of another company, Ason Estates, as are Imram Akram and Haroon Akram. Asons Estates owns the building formerly occupied by Asons and Coops.