A contrite Solicitors Regulation Authority has apologised to former clients of SSB Law for failing to spot warning signs that the cavity wall claims firm was in trouble.

But chair Anna Bradley rejected any suggestion that she or her fellow board members should resign in the wake of a second damning report into the organisation from oversight regulator the Legal Services Board in the space of a year.

Bradley said: ‘We are sorry that we did not act more quickly in relation to SSB, and that issues in our handling contributed to the harm and distress suffered by the many vulnerable consumers affected. We fully accept the recommendations of this review and are committed to doing all we can to learn from this event and to implement its recommendations.

‘The case showed that we need to continue changing the way we spot and assess risk and use data so that we can proactively identify new and emerging risks and threats and act on them before consumers suffer. We were keen to get on with addressing these issues ahead of the publication of this review, so we have already made significant changes to the way we work since 2024. We will now build on this, addressing any additional areas for improvement outlined.’

Pressed during a media briefing, Bradley repeatedly stated the SRA had accepted accountability for what had happened, then added: ‘It is not our view that a resignation is going to help.’

Chief executive Paul Philip, who is soon to retire, said no-one involved in any of the investigations into SSB had been disciplined or sacked, but they have been placed on training programmes.

The Law Society said that the matter showed ‘wholesale change’ is needed at the SRA, and that a ‘lack of clear leadership’ was at the heart of the mistakes.

‘The independent review reveals that the SRA received more than 100 reports about patterns of conduct in SSB’s handling of claims and it once again shows the SRA as lacking grip on managing key risks and responding adequately to protect consumers,’ Society president Mark Evans said. ‘The report lays bare a lack of leadership and oversight of regulatory procedures and processes at the SRA. This is despite knowing the risks posed by bulk cavity wall insulation cases, the previous failure of Pure Legal from which the SRA transferred clients to SSB, and multiple reports from MPs, other lawyers, industry and the victims themselves. A key concern must be the treatment of vulnerable victims by the SRA.

‘We know that the SRA will imminently have new leadership and that change comes at a crucial time for the organisation, which has been severely dented by the outcome of both the Axiom Ince and SSB reviews. In the space of 12 months both independent reviews separately concluded that the SRA failed to act adequately, effectively and efficiently and failed to take all the steps it should and could have taken.

'This cannot just be about improving systems and processes but requires culture change and focused leadership.’