Disciplinary Record - Dominic Thompson & Co Solicitors

Decision - Control of practice

Outcome: Condition

Outcome date: 30 June 2022

Published date: 11 July 2022

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: Dominic Thompson & Co Solicitors

Address(es): 215 Tulketh Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston.

Firm ID: 591820

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Dominic Thompson & Co Solicitors is the recognised sole practice of Dominic Thompson whose office is at 215 Tulketh Road, Ashton-on -Ribble, Preston Lancashire PR2 1ES. 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 has failed to publish mandatory details about costs and its complaints procedure on its website in breach of rules 1.1 and 2.1 of the SRA Transparency Rules.

The firm was ordered to pay a £2,000 financial penalty and costs of £600.

The following conditions were imposed on the firm’s authorisation with immediate effect:

1. If the firm 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.

Reasons/basis

Pursuant to rule 6.2 of the Application, Notice, Review and Appeal Rules, I can direct that these conditions have immediate effect. I have decided that it is in the public interest for them to have immediate effect from the date of the letter or email notifying the firm of them. This is because of the risk that it may reactivate its website and not be in compliance with the Rules.