Severe Concerns regarding the delayed…
Severe Concerns regarding the delayed return of client funds.
I instructed this firm on a commercial property matter in late 2021. A sum totalling £875K was sent to the firm in respect of this matter from my Company, to the account of Christopher Else, which I believed was the firm’s client account. I subsequently learned it was not.
Multiple requests and calls for these funds to be returned were met with delays, with no reasons given at any time for the proposed return of funds taking 12 days, which I advised on multiple occasions was totally unacceptable. The reaction to my concerns on this matter was entirely dismissive.
Such were my concerns and that of my wife, I had to visit the firm, the senior partner’s house and ask a senior partner at another law firm to speak to Mr Chris Else, Managing Partner, I believe, to ensure the return of our funds without any further delay. This still took six days from the original request.
The remainder of invoices for works carried out, totalling some £20,000, a substantial amount of which had already been paid, were deducted from our funds before they were returned.
I had to incur costs addressing the matter with another law firm.
The above conduct extremely eroded my confidence in Mr Else and the firm, to the degree I moved away from them altogether.
I also raised the matter with the firm’s auditors, but that request/complaint was
simply dismissed.
Shocking conduct for a firm of solicitors.
Please contact me if you have had a similar experience.
John Clifford