Archstone Solicitors Ltd (Archstone Solicitors)
131 The Grove, Stratford, London , E15 1EN
Recognised body
629799

Decision - Fined

Outcome: Fine

Outcome date: 18 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:

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.