One of the PM Law trading names abruptly shut down by the company’s closure is making a bid to restart as an independent business.
A notice posted on the door of Angela Viney Conveyancing Services, based in West Yorkshire, states that it is ‘actively exploring’ options to stay in business. It also outlined the frantic and crushing reality of trying to deal with an overnight shut-down that was completely out of its control.
Angela Viney opened in 1988 but five years ago made the decision to move under the umbrella of the PM Law group. This was intended to allow the high street practice to continue offering a community-focused service while regulatory, compliance, insurance and IT operations were managed centrally.
But with the overnight closure earlier this month of the PM Law group, the business was forced to shut its doors along with more than 20 offices which were also part of the network.
A total of 15 staff with Angela Viney Conveyancing Services were immediately made redundant as the firm struggled to answer questions from desperate clients who were worried about their ongoing transactions.
The firm’s managers, Angela Viney and Darren Becks, explained how they and their staff were blocked from accessing all systems including case files, emails, calendars and client contact details. The only instruction from the central operation was to place a notice on the door saying it was closed for ‘regulatory reasons’, with no further information provided.
Viney and Becks said they had worked closely with the SRA since intervention was confirmed, but the situation had been a nightmare for clients and staff.
‘With no access to electronic systems, we also did everything possible from memory to identify urgent matters such as imminent completions, contractual deadlines and vulnerable clients, and to bring these to the attention of the intervention team,' they said.
‘The situation has been utterly devastating for us and our staff. We are deeply saddened that something outside our control, involving a large organisation operating at a national level, has had such a sudden and severe impact on our clients, our team and our local community. This is not how we would ever choose for our clients’ matters to be disrupted, and it is profoundly upsetting that events unfolded so abruptly.’
For now, clients are being advised to contact the SRA’s intervention agent and to instruct a new solicitor or licensed conveyancer.
In the meantime, efforts will continue to re-establish operations independently, supported by colleagues, regulators and professional contacts, although the managers acknowledged this is a complex and time-consuming process.
They added: ‘Throughout this extremely difficult period, our staff have shown extraordinary professionalism, compassion and loyalty… we would like to thank our clients, colleague and the wider community for the kindness, patience and understanding shown to us during this unprecedented situation.’
The SRA confirmed this week it is investigating more than one individual and PM Law itself over a potential fraud and misappropriation of client money. Information gathered is also being shared with the police and other law enforcement agencies. Angela Viney Conveyancing Services was one of almost 30 trading names linked to PM Law, which operated following a series of interventions in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Cumbria and Berkshire.
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