Law firm's partners suspended after probe

Russell Steele • Published 6 Jul 2009 14:00

BOTH partners at a Greenock law firm have been suspended by the watchdog that regulates solicitors in Scotland.

David Lyons and Duncan Drummond are barred from practising as lawyers after a probe by the Law Society of Scotland into the affairs of their firm, Lyons Laing.

The company, based in the town"s George Square, above right, is now being run by a "judicial factor" recently appointed by the Court of Session.

That move followed a successful prosecution of both partners by the legal watchdog in February this year, which saw them heavily fined for breaches of accounting rules.

A spokeswoman for the Law Society of Scotland said: 'The Law Society of Scotland had previously recognised problems at the firm and had prosecuted both of the firm"s partners before the independent Scottish Solicitors" Discipline Tribunal in February this year.

'They were each fined £10,000 by the SSDT for breaches of the society"s accounts rules. Further concerns were identified during an inspection at the firm by the Society"s Financial Compliance team, which took place during April and May 2009.

'The society then made an application to the Court of Session for the appointment of a judicial factor to investigate the society"s concerns.

'The court granted the appointment on Thursday 28 May. On 2 July, arrangements were made for the client files and papers in the Glasgow office to be passed to other Glasgow solicitors.

'The business of the Greenock office is still being handled by the judicial factor and her staff.

'The appointment of judicial factor is now permanent and the firm"s two partners have been suspended.'

The Law Society is the organisation which acts to protect the interests of solicitors" clients and regularly inspects the books at firms to ensure they fully comply with the rules.

Judicial factors are officers of the court who act independently of the Law Society of Scotland.

Any clients of Lyons Laing with concerns should contact the judicial factor"s staff on 0141 353 1422 or the Law Society of Scotland on 0131 266 7411.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 06 Jul 09

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