Intervention Agents Panel appointed by SRA
1 July 2009
Twenty four firms have been appointed by the SRA to the panel of intervention agents, who intervene in practices where there is a serious risk to clients. A total of 166 firms expressed an interest, with tenders received from 59 firms. Of the 24 firms appointed, nine have not previously been on the panel.
One of the key aims of the tender was to ensure fairness and transparency in the selection of agents as well as to promote equality and diversity.
The firms appointed are
- Blake Lapthorn
- Devonshires Solicitors
- DWF LLP
- Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP
- Foot Anstey
- Foreman Laws
- Gordons LLP
- Harrison Clark LLP
- Hill Dickinson LLP
- Kennedys
- Laytons Solicitors
- Lester Aldridge LLP
- Mayo Wynne Baxter LLP
- Michelmores LLP
- Morgan Cole Solicitors
- Osbornes Solicitors
- Russell-Cooke LLP
- Shacklocks Solicitors
- Shulmans
- Stanley Tee LLP
- Stephensons Solicitors LLP
- Townshends LLP
- Vizards Wyeth
- Wright Hassall LLP
The appointments run for three years.
Intervention into a practice is designed to protect clients' interests and money, and has the effect of immediately closing the solicitor's practice (using powers set out in the Solicitors Act 1974). Agents are appointed to act on behalf of the SRA. The agent removes and schedules client papers and distributes them in accordance with clients' instructions, as well as identifying and dealing with urgent client matters, such as completions and injunctions. The agent also examines, rectifies and verifies the accounting records of the intervened firm and attempts to distribute the client account monies on the basis of those records where it is possible to do so.
SRA Chief Executive Antony Townsend said: "We actively encouraged applications from all parts of the legal community and we were very pleased with the number and quality of responses. We have an excellent panel in place to help us with interventions, which are a key means of protecting the public."