Regulators close down Archgate Solicitors and seize the money and files it held over “breach of rules”
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has intervened in Archgate Solicitors
By Michael Daventry
A PROMINENT law firm serving the Turkish and Kurdish communities was forced shut last week after regulators found it had breached rules over its finances.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority seized all client files at Archgate Solicitors, which provides services in such areas as family, property and immigration law from offices in Harringay Green Lanes.
It also took over all funds – including money belonging to clients – held by the firm, which appointed another law firm to oversee the firm’s most urgent cases.
A simple message on its website this week said the firm was closed and that Hampshire-based Black Lapthorn had been appointed in its place.
BREACH OF SOLICITOR RULES
The SRA found that Jayne Okacha, one of the partners at Archgate, had “failed to comply” with the rules in sections 31 and 32 of the Solicitors Act 1974, which describe how solicitors should conduct their business.
It decided to place the firm into “intervention” – in effect, a closure – on 11 February. A source told Londra Gazete that the SRA’s findings related to how Archgate was handling the money belonging to its clients.
Mrs Okacha is understood to have objected to the SRA’s decision and will be filing an appeal at the High Court, a process that could take many months.
The news will be scant comfort to Archgate’s clients, many of whose cases will not be worked on by the agent.
Another partner at Archgate, said they had written to their clients explaining the intervention, but admitted only the most urgent cases will be represented by angets Blake Lapthorn.
He refused to discuss why Archgate had been placed into intervention.
“I’m awaiting the outcome of the appeal,” he told Londra Gazete. “Until the matter is resolved, the clients will not be represented.”