what is involved?
The following outlines what is involved in an
intervention. Please click on the links below:
what is an intervention?
An intervention is where the Solicitors Regulation Authority
resolves to close a solicitor's practice. This is a power given to
the Solicitors Regulation Authority by Parliament.
An intervention has the effect that the intervened firm is
completely closed down from the time of the intervention and is no
longer able to act for its clients.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority takes possession of all
papers and monies held by the intervened firm. To carry out the
intervention effectively the Solicitors Regulation Authority
appoints an intervention agent to carry out their duties; Blake
Lapthorn is one such intervention agent. It is not our role to
continue the practice of the intervened firm.
As the effect of an intervention is to close the practice, and
therefore the intervened firm will no longer be able to act for
you, accordingly you will need to instruct new solicitors to act
for you. You are free to choose which solicitors you now wish to
act for you. Blake Lapthorn may be able to act for you although you
have no obligation to instruct Blake Lapthorn; nor does Blake
Lapthorn have any obligation to accept your instructions.
If your file requires further or continued attention it is very
important that you instruct a new firm of solicitors to act for you
as quickly as possible. You should be aware that there may be
important time limits; for example, in litigation there is a
limited period of time in which an action can be brought. It is
therefore important that you contact us as quickly as possible so
that your position with regard to any ongoing matter is not
prejudiced. To find out how to instruct a new solicitor, click
here.
what happens to my money?
Once an intervention has taken place, the Solicitors Regulation
Authority through its agent takes possession of all the monies held
by that firm on behalf of their clients. Blake Lapthorn is
responsible for examining the intervened firm's accounts in order
to assess how much money is held on behalf of each client.
If it is possible to establish how much money is owed to each
client, and once we have received the instructions of the
Solicitors Regulation Authority, Blake Lapthorn will endeavour to
distribute that money to the people entitled to it.
Unfortunately in some cases this is not possible, for example,
if the firm's accounting records are inadequate. In these cases any
money held by us is sent to the Solicitors Regulation Authority and
clients will need to contact the Solicitors Regulation Authority
Compensation Fund to claim any money due. The Compensation Fund
details are:
Solicitors Regulation Authority
Compensation Fund
8 Dormer Place
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV32 5AE
Click here for
a link to Solicitors Regulation Authority Compensation Fund
web pages.
If you believe the intervened firm was holding money to which
you are entitled then click here.
what happens to money I owed the intervened
solicitor?
You are still liable for any outstanding invoices, costs and
disbursements which the intervened solicitor had incurred on your
case up to and including the time of the intervention.
If you make a claim for any money that is owed to you by the
intervened firm, this claim will be set off against any money you
owed because of work already completed.
Any money that is due to the intervened solicitor should be sent
to Blake Lapthorn as agent for the Solicitors Regulation Authority
and should not be sent to the intervened solicitor.
what happens to my documents?
As soon as an intervention has occurred, all client files and
documents held by the intervened solicitor are removed from the
intervened solicitor's premises. Blake Lapthorn is responsible for
removing the files and, from these files, creating a list of all
the firm's clients.
The documents previously in the possession of the intervened
solicitor will be held for a period of three to six months by Blake
Lapthorn at our offices in Fareham, Hampshire.
Documents that have not been claimed within the first three to
six months following the intervention will be returned to the
Solicitors Regulation Authority for storage.
If the intervened practice held your Wills then we are willing
to store your Will for you. There is no charge for this service but
we will not review your Wills before storing them. To request that
we continue holding your Wills, click here.
To find out how to claim your documents back, click here.
For further information please contact Susie Dryden on 023 8085
7159 or email susie.dryden@bllaw.co.uk
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