A century-old Newcastle firm which shut down unexpectedly last month has been formally closed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority on the grounds of suspected dishonesty on the part of a manager.
Employees at Samuel Phillips Law were shocked last week to be told of the firm's closure. The firm, established by its eponymous owner in 1919, expanded into Wearside in 2023 with the opening of a new office in Sunderland.
In a statement today, the SRA said it had decided to intervene in the practice.
It continued: 'There is reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Mr Sufe Miah, as a manager of Samuel Phillips, in connection with the business of The Miah Solicitors Limited and Hathaways in which he is also a manager - paragraph 32(1)(d)(iv) of Schedule 2 to the Administration of Justice Act 1985 (as amended).'
John Owen of Gordons LLP, 1 New Augustus Street, Bradford, BD1 5LL, has been appointed as the intervention agent.
