The former director of one of the country’s biggest legal aid firms was today accused of ‘utterly brazen fraud’ against the Legal Aid Agency. 

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal today began hearing allegations by the Solicitors Regulation Authority against John Blavo, who headed closed national firm Blavo & Co Solicitors Ltd. 

The SRA alleges that Blavo, admitted in 1997, provided or facilitated the provision of falsified documents to the agency relating to client files, medical reports and tribunal decisions. It is further alleged that in 2015 he was involved in producing false documents.

The SRA also alleges that Blavo encouraged or gave instructions for the falsification of documents on two client files between 2013 and 2015.

Andrew Tabachnik KC, for the SRA, told the tribunal that in 14 specific cases, files were effectively ‘concocted from scratch, invented, cut and paste from other reports that may or may not have been genuine earlier clients to start with’.

He added: ‘There is clear evidence of blatant cutting and pasting and there is clear evidence John Blavo was absolutely at the heart of, and directs, this process of confecting from scratch client files which were then provided to the Legal Aid Agency who embarked on an audit of the firm, in order to address particular requirements that particular files with particular names be handed over, having been randomly identified for inspection.

‘We say Mr Blavo’s conduct in orchestrating the invention of those files was utterly brazen fraud, thoroughly dishonest and it cannot be explained, as he sought to hint when first interviewed, as something that amounts to no more than a few rogue instances of rogue, other employees perhaps padding their own work claims.’

Tabachnik said Blavo was ‘absolutely up to his eyeballs involved in this generation of falsified documents’.

Blavo was not represented or present at today’s hearing. Following an application by the SRA to proceed in his absence, the tribunal said it was satisfied that Blavo had voluntarily absented himself from the hearing.

The tribunal heard that Blavo denies all allegations.

It is now more than seven years since Blavo & Co, which had 18 offices across the country, was shut down by the regulator at a cost of around £800,000. The decision to prosecute Blavo was made in December 2018. Tabachnik said there was ‘good reason’ why matters were delayed – telling the tribunal there had been a police investigation and civil proceedings.

The tribunal heard that Blavo's firm, founded in 1997, became incorporated in 2011 with Blavo as managing director. He was the sole beneficial owner as well as the firm's COLP, COFA and complaints officer.

The hearing continues. 

 

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