A Liverpool conveyancing firm has been shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for allegedly failing to comply with the regulator's accounts rules.
The SRA announced its intervention into Bolton-Jones & Co, along with a decision taken by the regulator to intervene into the practice of manager Stephen Barton. Andrew Tyl-Lasota, a partner and solicitor, has also been suspended by the SRA.
In a statement, the regulator said: ‘Mr Barton has failed to comply with the SRA Accounts Rules (2019) which are rules made under section 32 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) – paragraph 1(1)( c) Schedule 1, Solicitors Act 1974.
‘It is necessary to intervene to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of Mr Barton, and/ or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which Mr Barton is or was a trustee – paragraph 1(1)(m) Schedule 1, Solicitors Act 1974.’
The firm’s website today has a notice that the SRA has intervened in its practice and that the firm is now closed. Clients are asked to contact intervening agent John Owen, of west Yorkshire firm Gordons LLP.
Gordons said it was collecting all live/ongoing client files previously held by Bolton-Jones and encouraged clients who want their file to get in touch.
Bolton-Jones & Co described itself as ‘a traditional high street practice established over 50 years providing competitive conveyancing services’.
Clients were offered an instant fixed fee competitive conveyancing quote, through a conveyancing quote calculator on the firm’s website, which used the sale price and purchase price of a client’s property.
