Disciplinary Record - A&T Legal Limited

Decision - Closure

Outcome: Intervention

Outcome date: 10 July 2024

Published date: 12 July 2024

Firm details

No detail provided:

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

To intervene into A&T Law Ltd t/a Leaside Law

Reasons/basis

Mr Ahmad as the manager of the firm has failed to comply with the SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs, the SRA Code of Conduct for Firms and the SRA Indemnity Insurance Rules which are rules applicable to the firm and Mr Ahmad under section 9 Administration of Justice Act 1985 as amended (paragraph 32(1)(a) Schedule 2 of the Act).

It is necessary to intervene to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of the firm and/or the interests of the beneficiaries of any trust of which the firm is or was a trustee (paragraph 32(1)(e) Schedule 2 of the Act)

Intervening agents

Chris Evans of Lester Aldridge LLP, Russell House, Oxford Road, Bournemouth, BH8 8EX has been appointed as the intervening agent.

For enquiries please call 01202 786 341 or email Intervention.Enquiries@LA-Law.com

Decision - Fined

Outcome: Fine

Outcome date: 15 January 2024

Published date: 26 February 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: A & T Legal Ltd

Address(es): Office 1, Church Lane Chambers, 11-12 Church Lane, London,

Firm ID: 654548

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

A & T LEGAL LTD was directed to pay a fixed financial penalty of £1,500 and costs of £150.

Reasons/basis

A & T LEGAL LTD is a recognised body whose office is at Office 1, Church Lane Chambers, 11-12 Church Lane, London, E11 1HG.

Firms are expected to take the necessary steps to run their business or carry out their role in a way that encourages equality of opportunity and respect for diversity.

Firms are also required to respond promptly to the SRA and provide full and accurate information following a request or requirement. This includes the requirement to monitor, report and publish workforce diversity data in a prescribed way.

A & T LEGAL LTD failed to:

• submit to the SRA its workforce diversity data after the SRA asked it to do so in breach of paragraph 3.3(a) of the Code of Conduct for Firms.

The firm continued to breach this requirement after the SRA directed it to pay a fixed financial penalty of £750.

Decision - Fined

Outcome: Fine

Outcome date: 27 November 2023

Published date: 11 January 2024

Firm details

No detail provided:

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Decision details A & T Legal Ltd was directed to pay a fixed financial penalty of £750 and costs of £150.

Reasons/basis

A & T Legal Ltd is a recognised body whose office is at Office 1, Church Lane Chambers, 11-12 Church Lane, London, E11 1HG.

Firms are expected to take the necessary steps to run their business or carry out their role in a way that encourages equality of opportunity and respect for diversity.

Firms are also required to respond promptly to the SRA and provide full and accurate information following a request or requirement. This includes the requirement to monitor, report and publish workforce diversity data in a prescribed way.

A & T Legal Ltd failed to:

• submit to the SRA its workforce diversity data after the SRA asked it to do so

in breach of paragraph 3.3(a) of the Code of Conduct for Firms.

The firm failed to remedy this breach after being given notice and reasonable time in which to do so.

Decision - Fined

Outcome: Fine

Outcome date: 28 November 2022

Published date: 19 January 2023

Firm details

No detail provided:

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

A&T Legal Limited (trading as Leaside Law) is a recognised body whose office is at Old Poplar Library, 45 Gillender Street, London E14 6RN.

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 was ordered to pay a financial penalty of £2,000 and costs of £600 and the following conditions were imposed on its authorisation:

1. If the firm has a website that 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.

Reasons/basis

Failure to comply with transparency rules.

Decision - Control of practice

Outcome: Condition

Outcome date: 28 November 2022

Published date: 8 December 2022

Firm details

No detail provided:

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

A&T Legal Limited (trading as Leaside Law) is a recognised body whose office is at Old Poplar Library, 45 Gillender Street, London E14 6RN.

The following conditions were imposed on A&T Legal Limited’s authorisation with immediate effect:

1. If the firm has a website that 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.

Reasons/basis

The firm has failed to comply with the Transparency Rules

Other information

There is also a disciplinary decision but this is at the appeal stage currently and so will not be published as yet.