The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has shut down conveyancing firm GW Law Limited and suspended its director Christopher Williams, citing ‘reasons to suspect dishonesty’ on his part.

It is also alleged by the SRA that Williams has failed to comply with accounts rules and the code of conduct.

North-west firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP has since been appointed to handle the firm’s affairs.

GW Legal (a trading name of GW Law) was established 40 years ago and operates from its offices in Chapel Street (pictured), in the heart of Liverpool.

Best Conveyancer

It has won several awards, including “Best Conveyancer” at the 2016 Specialist Finance Awards and was short-listed in the Best Conveyancing/Legal Search Services category at the Moneyfacts Awards in 2022.

It grew to a peak of 80 staff members but this was cut by a quarter during the pandemic and, as of July 2023, the number of employees had fallen to 32.

Appoint administrators

In the same year (2023), it filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators as part of what it described as ‘a restructuring process’ with its remaining workforce transferred to GW Law Ltd.

HMRC’s records show that by the end of July 2023, the firm had total net assets of around £825,000. Current assets had quadrupled in a year to more than £2.2m, with long-term debts rising from nothing to close to £450,000.

The Law Society Gazette reports that GW Legal’s phone number now goes straight through to a message service for Stephensons but its Twitter account appears to still be active, with messages posted in the past week wishing various organisations a ‘Merry Christmas’, while also continuing to promote its legal services.