Controversial law firm Asons changes ownership and its name

Controversial Bolton law firm Asons has changed hands with another member of the Akram family taking control and the company has been rebranded to Coops Law.

It is understood that former director Dr Kamran Akram and brother and chief executive Imran are no logner owners of the personal injury and clinical negligence specialist company which has now been taken over by Irfan Akram.

A company spokesperson said: “This is a fresh start for everyone – the employees and the people of Bolton.” Coops Law said there would be no job losses as a result of the ownership switch.

However, the company remains at the centre of a row over the award of a £300,000 grant under Bolton Council’s emergency powers procedure following its move to the former offices of The Bolton News at Newspaper House on Churchgate. This has led to calls for the resignation of the authority’s Labour leader Cllr Cliff Morris.

Accounts show a dispute with HMRC over a £300,000 bill and losses of more than £1m for the year to May 2015.

There is no evidence linking the disputed tax bill in the accounts to the grant handed to the company, which was said to be for work to its new headquarters in Churchgate.

Bolton Council’s external auditor KPMG is investigating the award of the grant, following widespread condemnation from Labour’s opposition councillors in the town.