Gordon McPherson
Keir
Solicitor
131370
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
Outcome date: 15 March 2025
Published date: 1 April 2026
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Hadgkiss Hughes & Beale
Address(es): 83-85 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8EB
Firm ID: 211039
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Reasons/basis
This notification relates to a Decision to bring Disciplinary Proceedings before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which will reach its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Solicitor. The Tribunal has certified that there is a case to answer in respect of allegations which are or include that:-
1. Mr Keir provided inaccurate information on Professional Indemnity Insurance proposal form/s, by answering 'No' in response to a question as to whether the Firm’s accounts had been qualified within the last five years, on any or all of the following dates: 23 August 2018, 6 March 2020 25 February 2021 and 14 February 2022.
2. Between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2024, the Firm failed to comply with its obligations under the SRA Accounts Rules 2011 and / or SRA Accounts Rules 2019:
2.1. As a manager of the Firm, he was liable for the breaches.
2.2. As a Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration, he failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the Firm, its manager, and employees, complied with its obligations under the rules.
3. Mr Keir did not ensure the Firm delivered to the SRA the qualified Accountant’s Report for the accounting period between 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.
4. On or before 25 January 2023, Mr Keir did not ensure that the Firm acted in accordance with the SRA Accounts Rules 2019 when it paid client money from its client account to a third party.
The allegations are subject to a Hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven.