Archstone Solicitors Ltd
(Archstone Solicitors)
131 The Grove, Stratford, London
, E15 1EN
Recognised body
629799
Decision - Fined
Outcome: Fine
Outcome date: 19 October 2022
Published date: 19 January 2023
Firm details
No detail provided:
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Archstone Solicitors Ltd is a recognised body whose office is at 131 The Grove, Stratford, London, E15 1EN.
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 failed to publish mandatory details about costs and its complaints procedure in breach of rules 1.1 and 2.1 of the Transparency Rules. It failed to display the SRA’s digital badge in breach of rule 4.1 of the Transparency Rules.
The firm failed to promptly remove its former website when requested to do so by the SRA, in breach of paragraph 3.4 of the Code of Conduct for Firms.
The firm was ordered to pay a financial penalty of £1,600 and costs of £600 and the following conditions were imposed on its authorisation:
- 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:
- it publishes the information specified in rule 1.5 of the Transparency Rules, and
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Decision - Fined
Outcome: Fine
Outcome date: 18 June 2021
Published date: 18 July 2021
Firm details
No detail provided:
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Archstone Solicitors Ltd is a recognised body whose principal office is at 131 The Grove, Stratford, London E15 1EN.
On 26 June 2017, the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLRs 2017) came into force. Law firms who carry out certain work must comply with the MLRs 2017. Those firms must carry out a risk assessment to identify and assess the business’ risks of money laundering and terrorist financing (the firm-wide risk assessment).
The SRA asked all those firms to complete a declaration to confirm that they have a compliant anti-money laundering firm-wide risk assessment by 31 January 2020.
Archstone Solicitors Ltd failed to provide the declaration until 10 May 2021, in breach of paragraphs 2.1(a) and 3.3(a) of the SRA Code of Conduct for Firms.
Archstone Solicitors Ltd was directed to pay a penalty of £800 and ordered to pay costs of £600.