Ackroyd Legal Limited
Unit 16 Turnstone Business Park Mulberry Avenue Widnes England
, WA8 OWN
Licenced body
639272
Decision - Sanction
Outcome: Rebuke
Outcome date: 22 July 2021
Published date: 24 August 2021
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Ackroyd Legal Limited
Address(es): Unit 16 Turnstone Business Park Mulberry Avenue Widnes England
Firm ID: 639272
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
The firm was issued with a written rebuke and a costs order of £1350.
Reasons/basis
Ackroyd Legal Limited is authorised and regulated by the SRA as a licensed body. At the time of the misconduct set out below the firm was known as Gordon Daniel Limited and was authorised as a recognised body. Its head office is at Unit 16, Turnstone Business Park, Mulberry Avenue, Widnes, WA8 0WN
It was found that the firm:
- Failed to confirm to a client the scope or limitation of its instructions and failed to advise the client on the potential consequences of not having not obtained the indemnity cover that he wanted. In failing to do so it breached SRA Principle 4.
- Acted where there was a significant risk of a client conflict in relation to an indemnity agreement. It also failed to obtain informed consent in writing to act in these circumstances. Its conduct in this regard breached SRA Principle 4 and failed to achieve Outcomes 3.5 and 3.6.
- Failed to consider whether a client conflict or a significant risk of a client conflict had arisen in relation to the drafting of a further indemnity agreement. Its conduct in this regard breached SRA Principle 4.
SRA Principle 4: You act in the best interests of each client.
Outcome 3.5: You do not act if there is a client conflict, or a significant risk of a client conflict, unless the circumstances set out in Outcomes 3.6 or 3.7 apply. Outcome 3.6: Where there is a client conflict and the clients have a substantially common interest in relation to a matter or a particular aspect of it, you only act if:
- you have explained the relevant issues and risks to the clients and you have a reasonable belief that they understand those issues and risks;
- all the clients have given informed consent in writing to you acting;
- you are satisfied that it is reasonable for you to act for all the clients and that it is in their best interests; and
- you are satisfied that the benefits to the clients of you doing so outweigh the risks