Manchester firm Robert Meaton & Co has been closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority due to suspected dishonesty by one of the partners.

The firm’s website states that the regulator intervened in the practice of Andrew John Davies and Stephen Astin on 8 August.

The SRA said the grounds for the intervention were suspected dishonesty on the part of Davies and failure to comply with the professional practice rules by both men.



The practising certificates of both Davies and Astin have been automatically suspended..



An intervention means the SRA has closed the firm with immediate effect, stopping it from operating, and taken possession of all documents, papers and money held by the firm.


The SRA has appointed Neal Boland of Stephensons Solicitors as an agent to deal with all matters currently held by Robert Meaton & Co. 

At this stage, the SRA said it could not disclose further details.

Only if disciplinary proceedings become necessary will further information be released.

 

No one from the firm could be contacted for comment.