Solicitors’ watchdog intervenes in Metamorph Law turmoil

Legal watchdog, The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), has closed a number of firms belonging to a Manchester-based law firm, to protect the interests of clients and former clients, it said.

The SRA is intervening in MLL Ltd, BPL Solicitors Ltd, Beaumont ABS Ltd, and Atray Ltd.

Beaumont ABS Ltd has an office in Wakefield.

All four firms are owned by Metamorph Group Ltd. Metamorph also owns five more firms which are not subject to the intervention. These are: Parrot & Coales LLP, Knight Polson Ltd, Browns Solicitors (Buckinghamshire), Beeston Edwards LLP and Knowles Benning LLP.

The firms also had a number of trading names, these are listed at the end of this report.

An intervention means the SRA has closed a firm with immediate effect. It will stop the firm from operating, take possession of all documents and papers held by the firm, and take possession of all money held by the firm, including clients’ money.

It is not responsible towards employees or trade creditors of firms that it has intervened in.

The SRA has appointed an agent to deal with all matters currently held by these firms. The agent will assess all ongoing matters and deal with those of greatest need first. The SRA’s archive team will take control of all documents held by the firm.

Clients of the firms do not need to contact either the agent or the SRA at this time. If anyone does have a query, however, they can contact the agent, John Owen of Gordons LLP by calling 0113 227 2117 or emailing metamorph@gordonsllp.com.

The SRA will now investigate further the issues raised that have led to this intervention to see if any additional action is necessary.

TheBusinessDesk.com exclusively reported in October that hundreds of jobs could be at risk after HMRC issued a winding-up petition against Linder Myers Solicitors.

Last month we reported that redundancies were likely after Metamorph had filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.

And last week we reported that some staff at Metamorph were still waiting for their November wages as the troubled group tried to push through a restructure.

Many staff, writing on social media, had called for the SRA to intervene. However, an SRA spokesperson said, on December 8, that it did not have the remit to become involved, saying the issues were the responsibility of employment law instead.

Trading names of the firms involved are: MLL Limited, Terry Jones Solicitors, Linder Myers Solicitors, Donnelley & Elliot Solicitors, SLC Solicitors, Verisona Law, Beaumont Solicitors, RJW Legal, BPL Solicitors Ltd, Terry Jones Conveyancing, BPL Solicitors, Beaumont Legal, Linder Myers Conveyancing, Version Conveyancing, Donnelley & Elliott Conveyancing, Beaumont ABS Ltd, Beaumont Legal, Atray Limited, and Formerly Metamorph Law Ltd.

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