Wolstenholmes pair struck off

TWO solicitors at Wolstenholmes, the Stockport law firm shut down by regulators three years ago, have been struck off.

At a disciplinary tribunal former managing partner Imran Hussain and Asma Qayum, practice manager at the firm’s office in Heald Green, faced allegations of dishonesty and “behaving in a way likely to diminish public trust”. They were also accused of breaching the solicitors code of conduct and accounting rules.

Mr Hussain was ordered to pay costs of £137,229 and Ms Qayum was ordered to pay £91,905.

Wolstenholmes, which specialised in conveyancing, was closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in December 2009 following scores of complaints from the firm’s former clients.

At the time the SRA suspended the practicing certificates of five former Wolstenholmes partners: Mr Hussain, Helen Murgatroyd, Bobby Shabbir, Bilal Khawaja and Nasser Ilyer.

At the tribunal Ms Murgatroyd was suspended for two years with costs of £34,898. Bilal Khawaja was suspended for a year with costs of £53,127 and Bobby Shabbir was suspended for six months with costs of £34,898. After the suspension ends they may only work as solicitors in employment approved by the SRA. The SRA said it welcomed the decision but could not comment because proceedings continue.

A report filed by the Wolstenholmes’ administrators, Manchester-based Berry Insolvency Partners, showed that the SRA expected its costs in refunding former Wolstenholmes’ clients, getting an intervening solicitor (DWF) to finish the work and investigating the company’s affairs, were likely to be in the region of £7.5m to £10m.

The SRA has managed to recoup £4.5m of this – £4m from Wolstenholmes’ former client account and £500,000 from work completed by the intervening solicitor. However, the regulator will suffer a shortfall of at least £3m – the bill for which will fall on the wider legal market.