Boss RE:SRA making an intervention order - Firm closed from tomorrow. - Devastating e-mail received

[ladyh0]

Hi.  Hope you you are all keeping safe and well.

 

I have worked for a law firm for nearly 21 years. 

I and a junior were the only staff not to be Furloughed. 

 

Yesterday teatime I received an email from my boss to say that on friday he was contacted by SRA to say that they were making an intervention order and Firm is closed as from tomorrow. 

 

No information on what will happen just said we are redundant with immediate effect. 

 

Obvs I have been scouring internet for information but my head is in pieces so just asking if anyone can offer me any information/advice on what I need to do. 

 

Anything would be much appreciated          

[ladyh0]

Hi all. thank you for your kind replies.  We are a small firm ( i am not a partner or anything, just an employee) 6 work at Firm.  We got a normal SRA audit about 18 months ago and thought nothing of it.  In my years of working there I know they do random audits but before lockdown they kept coming back to do further audits.  He must have known.  Email said no allegations of fraud or dishonesty!! This is obvs very early days but I need to know what I should do  RE :redundancy.  Can I start the process now ? Many thanks for your kind replies x

[ladyh0]

2 hours ago, Consumer_Sue said:

Hi there 

 

First off, you need to check your employment agreement and  the company policy on Redundancy (assuming they have one).

There will be be statutory redundancy payments that you will be entitled to and any enhanced payments that the your company may offer.  

 

The most important factor is notice of redundancy, if they have not followed the procedure set out in your employment contract/policy then it is a breach of contract. 

 

Here is the link to work out your statutory entitlement 

https://www.gov.uk/calculate-your-redundancy-pay

 

Hi. He has not given any notice period as Firm has closed so am I right (from reading) that I am entitled to 12 weeks notice pay.  I do not have a  written contract of employment  

[ladyh0]

4 hours ago, fkofilee said:

The SRA only intervene like this if something is very very wrong - How long has the firm been running?

 

https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/solicitor-closed-down/intervention/

 

 

Back to your issue. Honeybee has given you good advice. Check what you are entitled to and then place a claim for benefits if you are eligible. Dont delay - Claim today! 

You must do this online if it Universal Credit. Start your claim here - https://www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/

It doesnt take long if you have everything to hand

 

 

 

The firm has been running for over 40 years.  I have been there 21 and in my time there very few complaints and no negligence claims.  He says it was a historical breach of accounting rules which he could not rectify!!!  

[ladyh0]

1 hour ago, honeybee13 said:

There are a couple of snippets on the SRA page that say it's taken control of papers and finances. I think that's all the more reason to ring them tomorrow, ladyh0.

Documents and papers

When the SRA closes down a firm, we take all documents and papers that relate to its clients, including files and accounting records. We keep the documents safe and, if appropriate, return them to the people they belong to. Where are my documents?

Money

When the SRA closes down a firm, we take all money held by the firm, including its clients' money. We return this money to the people it belongs to if we can trace them. What happens to my money?

 

I don't find some of the links very helpful, they seem very generic.

Thank you.  I have read this also and not very helpful.  I will contact SRA tomorrow  

[ladyh0]

1 minute ago, honeybee13 said:

Are you going to ring the SRA, ladyh0?

 

HB

Yes I will call them tomorrow.  The date of intervention is tomorrow so hoping they will have some information for me   

[ladyh0]

4 minutes ago, honeybee13 said:

Are you going to ring the SRA, ladyh0?

 

HB

Yes I will call them tomorrow.  The date of intervention is tomorrow so hoping they will have some information for me   

[ladyh0]

2 minutes ago, honeybee13 said:

It'll be interesting to hear what they have to say. Fingers crossed.

 

HB

Thank you HB i will update asap x

[ladyh0]

2 hours ago, Manxman in exile said:

Is "he" a sole practitioner?  (ie a one-man firm).

Yes he is.  Firm has been going over 40 years 

[ladyh0]

From what I have found out it is due to breaches of accounting rules dating back a number of years but only discovered on a recent audit.  The intervention is today.  We are all obviously concerned about redundancy pay.  I understand that the firm accounts will be frozen but not sure if he is able to pay us the salary that is owed.

[ladyh0]

9 hours ago, Consumer_Sue said:

Yes, definitely ring them tomorrow.

 

Sounds pretty serious and I wish you all the best. It's rotten when a company you have served for so many years gets themselves into such a mess.

 

All the best, Sue x

Thank you so much.  I am lucky enough to have never been out of work.  Boss is being all apologetic and saying he will do all he can for us so I hope he follows through

[ladyh0]

Thank you.  I have just done the calculation and was pleasantly surprised with the amount of uc I will get.  I have also done the redundancy calculation and based on age, length of service, accrued holidays, 3 months notice pay and almost a month of extra days worked while rest of staff on Furlough I will get a fair amount.  We are just waiting to hear if boss is going to pay this months salary and redundancy before making any applications 

 

[ladyh0]

So SRA have confirmed intervention as of today and co worker who lives near office said there are people there taking out boxes of files.  SRA told me ex boss is responsible for pay, references etc and he must contact us to deal with these issues.  It also appears that he is intending to appeal the decision !!  

[ladyh0]

That was my next job and I am just waiting for a few call backs.  Haha No holiday home and he is almost 70 and knowing him as I do am sure he won't do a runner.  The Firm does extremely well and hence so does he !!  What we all want to find out is if redundancy is paid from Firms account or by him personally.

[ladyh0]

So I have received a bit of legal advice but not much more than I already know as solicitors wanted in the region of £300 for more in depth advice.   Not heard anything else from ex boss even after a chase up email was sent to him by co worker.  Am extremely stressed as don't know where to turn.  I cannot afford legal advice and come the end of the month i won't be able to pay my bills      

[ladyh0]

Hi guys.  Not been back for a few days as I have been trying to get as much information as possible.  Firstly, many thanks for all the advice you have taken the time to give me.  

I did manage to speak to a solicitor I know who gave me some good advice on the different options and said he was happy to help me but at this early stage we would need to know what route had to be taken before he could advise me further.  I emailed ex boss mid week basically asking what was happening, details of redundancy package etc and no reply.  I have been in regular contact with my co workers and it seems he is only talking to one co worker and has told her he is insolvent and we will here from the insolvency company so at least I can make a claim for redundancy.  I have done the government calculation and based on the 20 years service, holiday pay, pay in lieu of notice and unpaid wages I am due quite a bit.    The solicitor I spoke to also indicated that as well as redundancy I could make a separate claim against ex boss via tribunal for unfair dimissal  so I may look into this.

On a positive note I made a claim for UC on Wednesday   and London1971 you are right, the application process was very straight forward, i had my phone interview on Thursday, uploaded all documents and got my award notification the following day.  Am receiving a payment on Tuesday  

It also appears that word has got round and I have received a few messages from legal acquaintances asking me to send my CV.  I will keep updating but I cannot thank you lovely kind people for all your help and support so far xx 

[ladyh0]

So, ex boss has finally replied after another email sent stating unacceptable that not heard anything and he apologised !! and said he was seeing advisors tomorrow.  Have said if dont hear from him by end of week then will go down tribunal route.  On a different note, the solicitor that dealt with the intervention has called me on 3 occasions this week asking for "advice" on some of my files ( I deal with family law) re client contacting about updates etc and he wanted me to update him to pass information...stressing me out          
 

 

[ladyh0]

On 14/07/2020 at 10:05, London1971 said:

So tempting to bill him for the advice , I bet

Or ask him for a job

On a more positive note I got an email from ex boss late last night to say that he had been in meetings most of day with advisors who are now putting in place arrangements for our redundancy packages to be paid and we should hear from them in the next few days so fingers and toes crossed   

[ladyh0]

1 hour ago, fkofilee said:

Excellent I hope you get what you are due and everything works out. 

Keep your chin up...  

 

Also one other thing - We do all this for free - We'd love if you could donate a small amount to us when you are back on your feet? 

Oh I will definitely will.  As soon as  I get my redundancy.  You guys have been great, even if you couldn't give legal advice you gave practical advice and, more importantly, lots of support

[ladyh0]

So, I have received a letter today from an insolvency practitioner and he has entered into a creditors insolvency liquidation    so have applied online today for redundancy via RPS.  Hoping it wont be so long before I get settlement.  

[ladyh0]

Update...... I have a job  start on 4th August.  I actually got 2 offers from the 2 interviews I had.  You cannot believe what a relief that is and how much it has done for my self confidence.  Working for same firm for 20 years and pushing 50  .