CCLS solicitor to face misconduct allegations
THE solicitor behind a Manchester law firm that specialised in consumer credit claims is to face allegations of professional misconduct.
Richard James Burley ran Consumer Credit Litigation Solicitors (CCLS) which was shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in March.
The SRA said it had taken action against CCLS, which advised the claims firm Cartel Client Review, to safeguard clients’ documents and money. It has appointed Gordons of Bradford to handle the files.
The SRA said Mr Burley will now face allegations relating to his relationship with a third party compromising his independence and failing to act in clients’ best interests. If found guilty he could be fined, suspended or be struck off. A date for the hearing has not yet been set.
CCLS also traded as Burleys Solicitors of Newark, Nottinghamshire, which has also been closed down. A separate agent has been appointed to handle the files.
CCLS was jointly owned by Mr Burley of Nottinghamshire and Warrington-based Carl Wright who also owns Cartel Client Review, which is based at the same offices.
In March the Ministry of Justice suspended Cartel Client Review’s licence after receiving complaints from the public. Claims management companies, like Cartel, receive commission for passing claims on to law firms which then pursue them through the courts. Cartel and CCLS specialised in trying to free claimants from credit card debt.
