Achom and Partners (Achom and Partners)
92 Stroud Green Road London , N4 3EN
Recognised body
541787

Decision - Fined

Outcome: Fine

Outcome date: 30 November 2022

Published date: 19 January 2023

Firm details

No detail provided:

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Achom and Partners is a recognised body whose office is at 92 Stroud Green Road, London, N4 3EN.

The SRA Transparency Rules came into effect on 6 December 2018. They require all firms authorised and regulated by the SRA to display specified information on their websites if they provide certain types of legal services. The purpose of the Transparency Rules is to ensure people have accurate and relevant information about a solicitor or firm when they are considering purchasing legal services. They are intended to help members of the public and small businesses make informed choices, improving competition in the legal market.

The firm has failed to publish mandatory details about its costs for motoring offences, its complaints procedure and to display the SRA’s digital badge on its website in breach of rules 1.1, 2.1 and 4.1 of the Transparency Rules.

It was also found that the firm breached paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4 of the SRA Code of Conduct for Firms by failing to respond to the SRA’s letters and emails setting out the deficiencies with its website and by failing to remedy the same.

Paragraph 3.3 of the Code requires firms to respond promptly to the SRA and:

1. provide full and accurate explanations, information and documentation in response to any requests or requirements;
2. ensure that relevant information which is held by you, or by third parties carrying out functions on your behalf which are critical to the delivery of your legal services, is available for inspection by the SRA.

Paragraph 3.4 of the Code requires firms to act promptly to take any remedial action requested by the SRA.

The firm was ordered to pay a £3,500 financial penalty and costs of £600 and the following conditions were imposed on its authorisation:

1. If the firm publishes as available any of the services specified in rules 1.3 or 1.4 of the Transparency Rules, it must provide evidence to the SRA’s reasonable satisfaction that, in respect of each of those services:
   1. it publishes the information specified in rule 1.5 of the Transparency Rules, and
   2. such information is clear and accessible and is in a prominent place on its website.

      Such evidence must be provided to the SRA within 30 days of this condition coming into effect.

2. If the firm has a website, it must provide evidence to the SRA’s reasonable satisfaction, that it is complying with rule 2.1 of the Transparency Rules (Complaints Information). Such evidence must be provided to the SRA within 30 days of this condition coming into effect.
3. If the firm has a website, it must provide evidence to the SRA’s reasonable satisfaction that it publishes in a prominent position on its website, the SRA's digital badge. Such evidence must be provided to the SRA within 30 days of this condition coming into effect.