Client Money Abuse
The SRA imposed its largest-ever fine of £3,984,440 on Nurul Miah, non-solicitor owner of Kingly Solicitors (16 branches, 220,000 files). Miah made 310 improper transfers from client accounts totalling approximately £10 million, used for loan repayments and luxury purchases including a Ferrari and Aston Martin. He was permanently disqualified from any role in a regulated firm. Sources RollOnFriday: SRA issues record fine of £4m on ex-law firm owner Solicitor News: SRA Imposes Record £4 Million Fine on Kingly Solicitors Owner
Read More →FCA Enforcement
The FCA and SRA issued a joint warning to firms and law firms representing motor finance commission claims. Since January 2024, the FCA had removed or amended over 740 misleading advertisements and required nine law firms to provide information about their exit fees. The regulators flagged concerns about misleading marketing, lack of fee transparency, and firms pressuring consumers into binding agreements. Sources FCA and SRA warning on motor finance commission claims Regulators join forces to tackle poor claims management practices
Read More →Advertising Breach
The Advertising Standards Authority upheld complaints against three firms: Johnson Law Group: Diesel emissions ads claimed “up to £10,000” without substantiation; fees of up to 50% of damages were buried in FAQs; consumers unknowingly entered binding contracts through what appeared to be eligibility checks. Jones Whyte Law: Arnold Clark data breach ads promoted “no win, no fee” without disclosing that fees of up to 40% would be deducted from awards. KP Law / Join the Claim (Big On Media): Lead generator gave the misleading impression it was a law firm litigating the Arnold Clark case, when it was passing all leads exclusively to KP Law; fees buried in FAQ sections. Sources Law Gazette: ASA clamps down on misleading group claim adverts ASA Ruling: JLG Legal Ltd ASA Ruling: KP Law Ltd
Read More →Firm Distress
Tom Goodhead, founder of mass litigation specialist Pogust Goodhead, was ousted as CEO amid tensions with funder Gramercy (which invested $552 million in 2023). An internal DLA Piper investigation alleged “excessive and uncontrolled spending” including private jets, yacht parties, and over £5 million in travel/hospitality in 2023–2024. A £4.2 million “gift” to Goodhead was disclosed. The firm reported a £91 million loss in 2023. Referrals to the SRA and BSB are reportedly pending. The firm leads the BHP Mariana dam case (620,000+ claimants, £36 billion). Sources RollOnFriday: Pogust Goodhead founder accused of 'lavish spending' Law Gazette: Debt soars at troubled class action firm Pogust Goodhead Legal Cheek: The comprehensive school boy who founded Pogust Goodhead
Read More →Firm Collapse
An independent review by Carson McDowell (commissioned by the Legal Services Board) found the SRA failed to act on over 100 reports between 2019 and 2024 about SSB Law’s conduct. The regulator miscategorised complaints as “service” issues and permitted transfer of thousands of client files to JMR Solicitors despite internal warnings — JMR also subsequently collapsed. The LSB initiated unprecedented enforcement action against the SRA itself, which formally apologised and accepted all recommendations. Sources SRA apologises and fully accepts recommendations of SSB review Law Gazette: SRA ignored five years of red flags Law Society: SSB collapse independent review
Read More →SDT Ruling
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal dismissed all allegations against Craig Cooper (managing director) and Erich Kurtz (former partner) of Barings Law over their handling of volume payday lender mis-selling claims. The SRA alleged the firm had misled clients and sent claims on behalf of “fictional clients.” The SDT ordered the SRA to pay £30,000 in costs, criticising the regulator for relying on “prejudicial hearsay evidence” from lenders who had been sued by the solicitors. Sources Law Gazette: Director blasts 'egregious waste of money' after failed SRA case Legal Futures: Tribunal clears solicitors over volume litigation misconduct
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