Jon Goodwin, Author at Jonathan Goodwin

Solicitors and the Media

Solicitors are often called on to deal with media enquiries. From commenting on a particular development of law to acting as a media representative of a client and their family, dealing with the press is … Read More

What Is A Section 43 Order And How To Defend Against One

In October 2018, the High Court ordered a retrial after the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) found Francisco Rodriguez-Purcet, the former head of marketing and business development at a now-defunct law firm (Tandem Law), guilty of … Read More

What does liberalisation of the legal market mean for the UK law industry?

The UK legal market has always been a bastion of robust regulation and oversight, but things are about to change drastically. Earlier in 2018, the SRA submitted plans to the Legal Services Board (LSB) aimed … Read More

Three Solicitors Struck Off For Dishonesty After Court Rejects Mental Health Arguments

The anticipated case of Solicitors Regulation Authority v James & Ors was decided last week, ending the careers of three solicitors, and causing severe division within the profession. The case originated out of an SRA … Read More

Everything You Need To Know About The New SRA Price Transparency Guidelines

From December 2018, all regulated law firms will need to publish certain information regarding pricing and services. The requirement falls under the SRA’s new Transparency Rules. Regulated legal practices will need to publish the … Read More

‘Watershed’ Case Proves A Warning For Law Firms Using Subcontractors

Gempride Ltd v Bamrah & Anor [2018] EWCA Civ 1367 In June 2018, the Court of Appeal issued what has been called a “watershed” decision in relation to misconduct in Detailed Assessment proceedings. The Court … Read More

Fraudsters Are Continuing To Target Law Firms

In early September 2018, the SRA warned fraudsters are targeting unsuspecting law firms with new types of work in an effort to defraud them out of client money. The Law Society Gazette reported the SRA … Read More

Summer Is Coming To An End – Beware Of Fraudulent Claims From Holiday Makers

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has issued a new warning notice regarding false holiday sickness claims. As summer comes to an end and holiday-makers return home, it is imperative Solicitors are vigilant when it comes … Read More

SRA Announces Reforms

In June 2018, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced a series of reforms. These are designed to give legal professionals greater flexibility and improve access to justice. The reforms have been generated from the Looking … Read More

SRA Criticised After PI Solicitor Cleared Of Settling Claims Without Permission

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) criticised the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) over its handling of an investigation and subsequent prosecution of an “honest and credible” partner, Mr Vincent Gray, of the Greater Manchester practice, Dunne … Read More

UK Law Firms Still Challenged By Money Laundering Risks

Earlier this year, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) revealed it had implemented disciplinary measures against several law firms who had allegedly committed money laundering breaches. The authority stated it had carried out a review of … Read More

All Change – Get Ready For The SRA Handbook 2019 And New Account Rules

In June 2018, the Solicitors Regulation Authority published phase two of its Handbook reforms and a draft of the revised Handbook itself. The existing SRA Handbook is seen as complex and not particularly user-friendly – … Read More

How To Avoid And Challenge An SRA Intervention

An SRA intervention is the SRA’s nuclear weapon. If your firm is currently being investigated and you fear an intervention may be possible, you must take the situation seriously. An SRA intervention can destroy not … Read More

Can a Solicitor Who Has Been Struck Off Be Restored To The Roll?

A recent article in the Law Society Gazette has stated the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) has confirmed that it will ask this year whether the bar for finding solicitors guilty of misconduct should be lowered … Read More

Three Steps To Prevent Hackers Targeting Your Law Firm

Late last month, UK law firm Duncan Lewis alerted regulatory bodies and the National Crime Agency Action Fraud team that a data breach occurred in their firm. According to a report in the Law Society … Read More

How Law Firms Can Protect The Mental Health Of Their Staff

Do many law graduates understand the true nature of working in a law firm? I know that when I was in the midst of my law exams, the pressure seemed unbearable at times. But nothing … Read More

The SRA Accounts Rules (And What Happens When Your Breach Them)

In 2015, former Law Society council member Michael Webster was jailed for eight months after being found guilty of making five fraudulent transactions from his law firm’s client account to the value of £75,605.27. Mr … Read More

Wingate & Anr v Solicitors Regulation Authority and Solicitors Regulation Authority v Malins – Recent Appeals Involving Dishonesty and Integrity

The level of honesty and integrity demanded by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is incredibly high. And the penalty for acting dishonestly or with a lack of integrity can end an otherwise promising legal career. … Read More

Are Firms Doing Enough To Protect Solicitors From Stress?

Thanks to efforts by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Ruby Wax, and Elon Musk , mental health, for long the poor relation of health services in Britain, is now being taken seriously. … Read More

What Clients Say

“Upon being contacted by the SRA just before close of business on the Thursday before an Easter Bank Holiday weekend, I was left in a very worried and anxious state with, seemingly, nowhere to turn until the following Tuesday at the earliest. I immediately contacted a number of solicitors by email with a view to obtaining some advice. Not only was Jon good enough to respond to me out of working hours over a bank holiday weekend and schedule a call for Good Friday (no less!), he also put my mind instantly at rest.

Jon has an extremely practical and reassuring approach which is greatly needed when being faced with the enormous pressure of potentially losing one’s career and livelihood. Jon was cool, calm and collected and left me feeling positive after our first conversation; something that I wouldn’t have thought was at all possible at the time.

Jon reviewed the notification from the SRA and proceeded to discuss with me a way forward drawing on an impressively wide and detailed knowledge of the SRA’s practices and procedures as well as an expert command of both law and strategy. I was presented with an immediate plan and some contingencies depending on how the SRA decided to play things.

The SRA were initially reluctant to disclose information to us but Jon not only managed to obtain this from them, he also took the time to really get to grips with my background, the situation giving rise to the investigation and then to prepare a detailed response setting out my position and the basis on which we opposed the SRA’s continuing investigation. Jon’s representations led to a very quick dismissal by the SRA and a discontinuance of their investigation.

I firmly believe that it was these representations which drew on my background, the context of the situation and an extraordinary combination of SRA guidance, policy and case law that won the day; none of which I believe could have been as effectively put together if it weren’t for Jon’s great care and meticulous dedication in fully understanding all aspects of the matter.

This was an extremely horrible time for me but Jon was the consummate professional and made me feel reassured and supported every step of the way. The fact that he always took the time to respond either by telephone or email could not have been appreciated more; in a situation like this it is often just the reassurance of a brief response that stops you from losing your thread and Jon was enormously reliable and reassuring in that regard (and all others too!). If I were ever to find myself in this situation or a similar one in the future, Jon would be my first call.

I cannot thank Jon enough for what he did for me and I cannot recommend his service enough to any and all who might need it. The reviews all proved true and the investment was definitely worth it!”

Retired Licensed Conveyancer

"Upon being contacted by the SRA just before close of business on the Thursday before an Easter Bank Holiday weekend, I was left in a very worried and anxious state with, seemingly, nowhere to turn until the following Tuesday at the earliest. I immediately contacted a number of solicitors by email with a view to obtaining some advice. Not only was Jon good enough to respond to me out of working hours over a bank holiday weekend and schedule a call for Good Friday (no less!), he also put my mind instantly at rest. Jon has an extremely practical and reassuring approach which is greatly needed when being faced with the enormous pressure of potentially losing one's career and livelihood. Jon was cool, calm and collected and left me feeling positive after our first conversation; something that I wouldn't have thought was at all possible at the time. Jon reviewed the notification from the SRA and proceeded to discuss with me a way forward drawing on an impressively wide and detailed knowledge of the SRA's practices and procedures as well as an expert command of both law and strategy. I was presented with an immediate plan and some contingencies depending on how the SRA decided to play things. The SRA were initially reluctant to disclose information to us but Jon not only managed to obtain this from them, he also took the time to really get to grips with my background, the situation giving rise to the investigation and then to prepare a detailed response setting out my position and the basis on which we opposed the SRA's continuing investigation. Jon's representations led to a very quick dismissal by the SRA and a discontinuance of their investigation. I firmly believe that it was these representations which drew on my background, the context of the situation and an extraordinary combination of SRA guidance, policy and case law that won the day; none of which I believe could have been as effectively put together if it weren't for Jon's great care and meticulous dedication in fully understanding all aspects of the matter. This was an extremely horrible time for me but Jon was the consummate professional and made me feel reassured and supported every step of the way. The fact that he always took the time to respond either by telephone or email could not have been appreciated more; in a situation like this it is often just the reassurance of a brief response that stops you from losing your thread and Jon was enormously reliable and reassuring in that regard (and all others too!). If I were ever to find myself in this situation or a similar one in the future, Jon would be my first call. I cannot thank Jon enough for what he did for me and I cannot recommend his service enough to any and all who might need it. The reviews all proved true and the investment was definitely worth it!" Retired Licensed Conveyancer

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