SRA Client Account Enforcement Tracker: Every Case

In short

Since January 2023 the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has struck off, suspended or fined more than 45 solicitors and firms over client money, and the SRA has issued a further run of fines and rebukes without a tribunal. The rules cited most are 5.1 and 6.1 (improper withdrawals and failure to replace a shortage), 8.1 and 8.3 (no proper accounting records or five-weekly reconciliations), 12.1 (no accountant's report), 2.5 (residual balances) and 3.3 (using the client account as a banking facility). The SRA intervened in 42 firms in the year to 31 October 2025 and the Compensation Fund paid out £46.4 million, its highest total.

Key takeaways

Strike-off is the usual outcome where client money was taken: Fletcher Day (shortage £2.1 million), Streathers (up to £1.17 million), Charles Hill and Co (£163,113) and MSP Legal Services all ended in strike-offs in 2025 and 2026.
Records failures alone bring suspensions and fines: no cash book, no five-weekly reconciliation and no accountant's report (rules 8.1, 8.3 and 12.1) appear in more than half the cases.
Rule 3.3, which bans using the client account to move money with no legal work behind it, is now the SRA's most common fine without a tribunal: Armstrong Teasdale (£13.8 million through the account, fine £35,280), Morr and Co (£1.4 million, fine £13,500), Gunnercooke (£952,000 of receipts, fine £14,116).
Residual balances left for years are penalised even with no loss: YVA Solicitors held £12.8 million of sale proceeds for 13 months and was fined; Brockbank Curwen Cain and Hall held £324,010 on 216 matters.
Interventions rose from 25 in 2021/22 to 65 in 2022/23 and 59 in 2023/24; Compensation Fund payments reached £41 million, £27.9 million and £46.4 million in the last three years, driven by Metamorph and Axiom Ince.
The SRA decided on 2 June 2026 that every firm holding client money must submit an annual accountant's report and declaration, with fixed penalties for late or missing reports, expected in force in early 2027 once the Legal Services Board approves.

What this tracker covers

This page lists every published Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) judgment and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) decision since January 2023 in which the handling of client money was at the centre of the case: shortages on client account, improper transfers to the office account, money held in personal or business accounts, missing accounting records or reconciliations, missing accountant's reports, residual balances kept for years, and the use of the client account as a banking facility. Each entry gives the SRA Accounts Rules breached, the sanction, the amount where the judgment states one, whether the SRA intervened (closed the firm and took control of its files and money) and a link to the judgment or decision.

Names are as published in the judgments and decisions, which are public documents. Where a figure appears only in press coverage and not in the judgment, it is left out. Entries are in date order, newest first. Rule numbers refer to the SRA Accounts Rules 2019 unless marked as the 2011 rules, which applied to conduct before 25 November 2019.

For the rules themselves see the SRA Accounts Rules guide, the client account reconciliation guide and the accountant's report guide.

The position in numbers

SRA-published figures by regulatory year (1 November to 31 October). The SRA does not publish a breakdown of enforcement by Accounts Rule, so the case counts below are from this tracker.

Year	Interventions	Compensation Fund paid	Notes
2024/25	42	£46.4m	Axiom Ince over £19.2m; Metamorph. 2,116 claims received, 692 open worth £26.4m at year end.
2023/24	59	£27.9m	Axiom Ince over £17m. 2,468 claims, 1,341 paid, average about £21,000, largest single payment £2m. By area: probate £17.1m, deposits £7.7m, sale proceeds £1.8m.
2022/23	65	£41.0m	Metamorph about £27m. 2,506 claims, 1,102 paid, average about £37,000.
2021/22	25	£15.0m
2020/21	26	£27.0m
2019/20	40	£10.2m
Enforcement 2023/24	78 SDT cases concluded: 42 strike-offs, 15 suspensions, 20 fines	155 SRA financial penalties totalling £1,334,358; 42 rebukes	11,852 reports received; 1,763 referred for investigation.
This tracker (Jan 2023 to Oct 2026)	46 SDT judgments listed: 26 strike-offs, 11 suspensions, 7 fines, 2 reprimands	19 SRA decisions: 15 fines, 4 rebukes; one of the fined firms later closed by intervention	Rule 3.3 banking facility: 13 cases. No accountant's report (12.1): 15 cases. Records or reconciliations (8.1, 8.3): 21 cases.

Tribunal judgments in 2026

Costs orders are against the respondent and payable to the SRA. Where the judgment records that the respondent is bankrupt or without means, no costs order was made.

8 Oct 2026 (hearing 14 to 17 Sep 2026). Andrew Lee, Prometheus Law Ltd (sole practitioner). Never wrote up the client cash book, never reconciled and kept no client balance list from 2017; also practised uninsured and was dishonest to the SRA. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £45,121. Rules 8.1 and 8.3 (and the 2011 rules 29.1, 29.2, 29.9, 29.12 before November 2019). Intervention 30 July 2023. Source: Judgment 12712 (PDF).
27 Aug 2026. John William Cruickshank, Geoffrey Hill and Co. Books not maintained, no reconciliations and no accountant's reports from February 2022 to October 2024; kept operating the client account knowing the records were unreliable. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Suspension of 9 months from 20 August 2026, then 12 months of conditions (no sole practice, no COLP or COFA role, no client money); costs £7,727. Rules 8.1, 8.3 and 12.1. Initial discrepancy £743,373, unresolved difference £591,385; 31 Compensation Fund claims estimated at over £400,000. Intervention 14 October 2024. Source: Judgment 12922 (PDF).
14 Aug 2026. Gordon Mcpherson Keir, Hadgkiss Hughes and Beale (COFA). Residual balances held from 2015 to 2024, two qualified accountant's reports filed late, £10,868 of client money paid to charity without SRA authority, and wrong answers on insurance proposals. Outcome: Reprimand; barred from the COFA role for at least 12 months with training; costs £39,000. Rules 2.5 and 12.1. Source: Judgment 12807 (PDF).
7 Aug 2026. Fiona Jane Smith, MSP Legal Services LLP (COFA). Caused a very significant client account shortage through improper transfers out of the client account between August 2021 and March 2023. Admitted. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £41,000. Rules 5.1, 5.3 and 6.1. Shortage figure not stated in the judgment. Intervention 3 April 2023. Source: Judgment 12849 (PDF).
28 Jul 2026. Julian Condliffe, Creative Legal Solutions Ltd. Held client money in a business account that was not a client account, not available on demand and subject to transaction limits, from August 2024 to January 2025, peaking at £2,575,575; one completion sum of £1,099,413 was held there for 23 days. Separate dishonesty findings on a property matter. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £47,939. Rules 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 3.1. Intervention 17 January 2025. Source: Judgment 12689 (PDF).
20 Jul 2026 (hearing 1 Jun 2026). James Swead and John Szepietowski, AAG Legal Services Ltd. A client's conveyancing money was used without authority to settle a claim against the firm and taken as costs without a bill; found dishonest. Under appeal to the High Court. Outcome: Both struck off; costs £9,000 and £39,553. 2011 rules 1.2(c), 17.2, 20.1 and 20.3 (2017 conduct). £94,739 plus £8,700. Source: Judgment 12472 (PDF).
22 Jun 2026. Steven David Simpkins, Simpkins and Co. Moved client money to the office account to pay wages and tax, and gave misleading information to the SRA investigator; lack of integrity, no dishonesty. Outcome: Suspension of 18 months from 15 May 2026, then indefinite conditions; no costs order. Rules 5.1, 5.2 and 6.1. £161,814 (two clients). Firm closed 8 September 2023. Source: Judgment 12792 (PDF).
9 Jun 2026. Shashi Patel, Patel and Co. Cash shortage, no proper reconciliations, residual balances held for up to 20 years, no accountant's report, a fraud loss and dishonest insurance answers. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £45,337. Rules 2.5, 5.1, 5.3, 8.1, 8.3 and 12.1. Shortfall £66,482; 685 dormant matters totalling £92,144; fraud loss £166,709 (reimbursed). Intervention 5 September 2023. Source: Judgment 12837 (PDF).
3 Jun 2026. Sarinjit Singh Bahia, Consilium Legal Ltd. Kept £27,698 of client money in a personal account, did not account for £15,000 of trust interest and used £13,560 of stamp duty money for other purposes. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Fine £15,000 and a 7-year restriction order (no manager or owner role, no COLP or COFA, no client money); costs £20,000. Rule 5.1. Intervention 8 July 2021. Source: Judgment 12574 (PDF).
1 Jun 2026. Mark Grenville Davies, Bennett Richmond. Improper withdrawals from five ledgers causing a shortage that was not replaced; costs taken from probate estates without telling executors; two estates overcharged. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Strike-off; no costs (bankrupt). Rules 4.3, 5.1 and 6.1. Minimum shortage £13,740; 47 unnotified invoices £47,290; overcharges £19,394. Source: Judgment 12796 (PDF).
10 Apr 2026. Nicholas Devlin, Cartmell Shepherd (associate). Transferred client money to pay bills that had never been sent to clients, across 18 matters from March 2020 to November 2022; dishonest time recording. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £10,000. Rule 4.3. About £216,000 transferred; the firm corrected every ledger and no client lost money. Source: Judgment 12862 (PDF).
23 Mar 2026. Christopher Yiannakas, Nicholas Kephalas and YVA Solicitors LLP. £12.8 million of sale proceeds left in the client account for 13 months with no proper reason. Rule 3.3 allegations withdrawn. The Tribunal rejected a reprimand as too lenient. Outcome: Fines £500 for each individual and £2,500 for the firm; costs £35,000. Rule 2.5. No loss. Source: Judgment 12728 (PDF).
10 Mar 2026. Jude Sebastian Fletcher, Fletcher Day Ltd. Moved about £2 million of client money to a bank account only he controlled and paid out at least £997,418 for his own purposes; forged bank statements shown to the SRA and the firm's cashier. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £65,000. Rules 5.1, 5.2 and 6.1. Shortage £2,096,758 at 30 September 2022. Intervention 22 February 2023. Source: Judgment 12765 (PDF).
19 Mar 2026 (hearing 24 Feb 2026). Darren Hanison, Fortitude Law. Seventeen allegations, including dishonestly keeping £45,000 of a client's £295,000 settlement as a success fee and failing to keep compliant accounts as COFA. Outcome: Strike-off. Rule 8.3. Intervention 17 May 2023. Source: Judgment 12764 (PDF).
6 Feb 2026. Michelle Niaz. Held client money after the firm lost its authorisation (January 2020 to September 2023); no five-weekly reconciliations and no accountant's reports since 2016. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Suspension of 9 months from 22 January 2026, then indefinite conditions; costs £22,140. Rules 8.3 and 12.1 (and the 2011 rules 29.12 and 32A.1 earlier). Firm closed September 2023. Source: Judgment 12767 (PDF).
13 Jan 2026. Andrew Brian Alexander Cooper, Streathers Solicitors LLP (partner). Payments out of the client account without client instructions between August 2019 and September 2022, including about £76,653 to HMRC for his own tax. Dishonest. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £29,451. Rule 5.1 (2011 rule 20.1(f) before November 2019). Cash shortage up to £1,174,494. Source: Judgment 12737 (PDF).

Tribunal judgments in 2025

Fifteen judgments, from a £2 million banking-facility case to a £6,000 cash receipt in a car park.

22 Dec 2025. Shahid Ali, Osborn Knight Ltd (partner). Client cash of £5,500 returned by the National Crime Agency, and £15,000 later, was never recorded on a client ledger or returned promptly; dishonest statements to the client's wife. Exceptional circumstances found. Outcome: Fine £40,000 plus six hours of Accounts Rules and anti-money-laundering training; costs £30,000. Rules 2.3, 2.5 and 8.1. About £20,500, returned in full. Source: Judgment 12685 (PDF).
4 Dec 2025. Eric Kawoya Kabuye, Queenscourt Law Ltd trading as Hamilton Solicitors. The firm facilitated fraudulent property sales; sale proceeds were passed to third parties with no underlying transaction, leaving a large shortage. Outcome: Suspension of 6 months, itself suspended for 12 months, plus conditions; costs £7,500. Rules 3.3, 5.3 and 6.1. Minimum shortage £825,368, with a potential further £1,610,000. Intervention 6 July 2023. Source: Judgment 12703 (PDF).
28 Nov 2025. Gavin Clarke. Took £4,525 from a member of the public while not entitled to practise, held it in his personal account, did no work and did not return it. Outcome: Strike-off; no costs order. Code of Conduct paragraph 4.3; no Accounts Rule cited. Source: Judgment 12730 (PDF).
22 Oct 2025. Stefanie Anne O'Bryen, Watlington Solicitors. Inaccurate records and two client account shortages (2020 to 2022 and 2023 to 2024), later replaced from the office account. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Suspension of 18 months from 9 October 2025, then indefinite conditions; costs £25,000. Rules 5.1, 5.3, 6.1 and 8.1. Shortages up to £6,080 and £3,487. Source: Judgment 12611 (PDF).
6 Oct 2025. Charles Ogbonna Azotam, Charles Hill and Co. Took client money for himself and the firm, leaving an unreplaced shortage; issued two cheques for £122,010 knowing there were no funds; no reconciliations, ledgers or accountant's reports from 2020. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £1,000 (bankrupt). Rules 5.1, 6.1, 8.1, 8.3 and 12.1. Shortage £163,113. Intervention 12 March 2024. Source: Judgment 12777 (PDF).
22 Sep 2025. David James Chalcraft, Alexander and Partners. Held £11,000 of a client's money for years with no reason, made interim payments from it and paid the client's mortgage arrears (a banking facility); no accountant's reports as COFA. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £10,000. Rules 2.5, 3.3 and 12.1. Source: Judgment 12620 (PDF).
17 Sep 2025. Anbananden Sooben, Duncan Ellis Solicitors. A branch office was run through a caseworker's own company; shortage, no five-weekly reconciliations and no cash book at the branch; reckless failure to supervise. Outcome: Suspension of 9 months from 20 August 2025, then indefinite conditions; costs £35,000. Rules 6.1, 8.1 and 8.3. Minimum shortage £9,120. Intervention 12 February 2024. Source: Judgment 12716 (PDF).
18 Aug 2025. Alison Haley Griffiths, Regulatory Law Ltd. Stole from two vulnerable people while acting as their attorney; convicted of fraud by abuse of position and imprisoned for 24 months. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Strike-off; no costs. Principles and Code; no Accounts Rule cited. £85,273. Source: Judgment 12759 (PDF).
31 Jul 2025. Elizabeth Jane Radcliffe, Rowe Radcliffe. Improper transfers from the client account causing a shortage that was not replaced; books not written up; no reconciliations; failure to cooperate with the SRA and the Legal Ombudsman. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Suspension of 12 months from 3 July 2025, then conditions; no costs. Rules 5.1, 5.3, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.3. Minimum shortage £122,263 at 30 June 2021. Intervention March 2023. Source: Judgment 12700 (PDF).
30 Jul 2025. Nigel John Weller, Nigel Weller and Co. Took £6,000 in cash from a third party in a car park for a legally aided client subject to a restraint order and did not pay it into the client account. Outcome: Reprimand; costs £8,000. Rule 2.3. Source: Judgment 12639 (PDF).
29 Jul 2025. Yusuf Jamal Siddiqui, YJS Legal. Inaccurate and incomplete records meant the firm could not show the client account covered its liabilities; client money paid into a personal account. Under appeal. Outcome: Suspension of 9 months from 16 April 2025; costs £21,130. Rules 8.1 and 8.3. The firm closed its client account voluntarily. Source: Judgment 12637 (PDF).
24 Jul 2025. Md Zahidul Islam and Zarina Shaheen Bostan. No running list of client balances, no cash book and no five-weekly bank statements or reconciliations from January to October 2020, after the firm was bought by an unadmitted person who ran the accounts. Outcome: Fines of £10,001 each; Ms Bostan also barred from sole practice or partnership for 3 years; costs £14,482 and £26,896. Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3. No actual harm found. Source: Judgment 12651 (PDF).
15 Jul 2025. William Joseph Harris, William Harris Solicitors. Held residual balances for 54 clients from 2018 to 2024 without returning them; no accountant's reports for three years; anti-money-laundering failures; dishonesty. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £29,776. Rules 2.5 and 12.1. Over £100,000 in residual balances. Source: Judgment 12738 (PDF).
3 Mar 2025. David Baynon Crosby, Crosby and Woods. Took costs from the client account without giving written notice, creating shortages across matters between 2018 and 2020. Dishonest. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £26,595. Rules 4.3, 5.1 and 6.1. Shortage £39,660, of which £6,360 rectified. Source: Judgment 12658 (PDF).
12 Feb 2025. Mark Ian Williams, Frame Smith and Co (consultant). Took £7,200 from a client for an expert into his personal account, kept the balance for nine months after the case ended and deducted his own fees. Outcome: Suspension of 6 months from 28 January 2025; costs £5,000. Rules 2.3 and 2.5. Source: Judgment 12626 (PDF).
5 Feb 2025. Amir Nazir Butt, ANB Law. Residual client balances not returned from November 2014 to December 2022; anti-money-laundering and record-keeping failures; a false compliance declaration to the SRA. Outcome: Fine £35,000 and 3 years of conditions (half-yearly accounts, AML submissions, Lexcel); costs £28,000. Rules 2.5 and 6.1. No deficit on the client account. Source: Judgment 12642 (PDF).
16 Jan 2025. WGS Solicitors (firm). The client account was used to move money in and out with no underlying legal transaction from May 2018 to August 2020; anti-money-laundering failures. Agreed outcome for the firm. Outcome: Fine £25,258; costs £18,000. Rule 3.3 (2011 rule 14.5 earlier). Source: Judgment 12616 (PDF).

Tribunal judgments in 2023 and 2024

Older conduct charged under the 2011 Accounts Rules appears here; the rule numbers are different but the duties are the same.

18 Nov 2024. Betty Igwebike Forde, Anchor Legal Solicitors. Client money moved into the business account, no ledgers or cash book, no reconciliations, no central record of bills; manifest incompetence and false legal aid claims. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £65,045. Rules 4.1, 8.1, 8.3 and 8.4. The investigator could not establish whether client liabilities were covered. Intervention 25 July 2023. Source: Judgment 12583 (PDF).
11 Nov 2024. Richard Harbord, McGlinchey and Co and Harbord and Co. Kept his own property sale proceeds (£451,446 and £347,122) in the client account and paid personal items from it; no accountant's reports from 2019 to 2023 at both firms; failure to cooperate. Outcome: Fine £8,500; costs £40,000. Rules 3.3 and 12.1 (2011 rules 14.5 and 32A.1 earlier). Source: Judgment 12580 (PDF).
25 Oct 2024. David Durkin-Finch, EMEA Law Ltd trading as Cleverson Solicitors. An unadmitted person ran the firm; cash shortage, no month-end reconciliations, no accountant's report for 2019 to 2020; VAT not set aside and the firm insolvent. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Suspension of 2 years from 3 October 2024, then indefinite conditions; costs £6,000. Rules 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 8.1, 8.3 and 12.1. Shortage £12,913. Source: Judgment 12586 (PDF).
19 Aug 2024. Simon Paget-Brown, Paget-Brown (UK) Ltd. Two ledgers used as a banking facility (70 transactions, credits of £1.44 million and £628,930) with no underlying legal work; no records or accountant's reports for three years. Outcome: Suspension of 12 months from 11 July 2024, then conditions; costs £15,000. Rules 3.3, 8.1, 12.1 and 12.2. Unreturned balances of £212,800, £161,594 and £56,000. Source: Judgment 12551 (PDF).
6 Aug 2024. Guy Nicholas Hurst (Eric Robinson Solicitors; Keystone Law). Had clients pay fees into his personal bank account at two firms and spent the money. Dishonest. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £6,283. Rules 2.3 and 2.5. £10,000 across three payments. Source: Judgment 12535 (PDF).
4 Jul 2024. Dominic Leon Macknight, Lawson Taylor Solicitors Ltd. Client-to-office transfers that could not be allocated to any matter, made to keep the office overdraft under £30,000; the shortage was never replaced; no reconciliations for 16 months. Admitted dishonesty. Outcome: Strike-off; no costs order. Rules 5.1, 6.1 and 8.3. Shortage £16,308 of £54,523 transferred. Intervention 5 December 2022. Source: Judgment 12544 (PDF).
19 Dec 2023. Paul Douglas Hills, Hatten Wyatt. Kept client payments instead of paying them into the client account on up to six occasions, and kept oath fees. Dishonest. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £15,000. 2011 rule 14.1. Source: Judgment 12478 (PDF).
27 Oct 2023. Andrew James Cutland, John Hodge Solicitors and BGW Law. Took £485.60 from one client's ledger to pay another client's search fees. Dishonest. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £17,489. 2011 rule 20.1. The firm reimbursed the client. Source: Judgment 12467 (PDF).
18 Oct 2023. Samantha Anne Lee, Lee Syms Ltd trading as Swain and Co. Legal aid payments received on settled cases were used to run the firm instead of paying counsel and experts; qualified accountant's reports were ignored from 2015 to 2019. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £6,583. 2011 rules 6.1, 7.1, 7.2 and 19.2. Shortage £263,508 in November 2019, peak £610,621. The firm entered administration 27 November 2020. Source: Judgment 12500 (PDF).
20 Jul 2023. Mahesh Chouhan, MMC Solicitors. Client money paid into the firm's business account and mixed with personal spending. Agreed outcome. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £1,500. 2011 rules 1.2(a), (b) and (c). Intervention 23 September 2019. Source: Judgment 12457 (PDF).
5 Jul 2023. Glenn Charles Hurstfield, Berkeley Law Ltd. As a trustee, lent client money to a company he directed; transferred £112,000 of client money to his own account; ran unrelated payments through the client account. Admitted dishonesty. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £52,283. 2011 rules 14.5, 27.2 and 29.1. £112,000 plus two loans of £40,000; he later tendered £147,500. Source: Judgment 12452 (PDF).
22 May 2023. Alex Richard Guy (Switalskis). As a Court of Protection deputy, raised bills for work not done and moved protected persons' money to the office account. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £17,000. 2011 rule 20.1. £272,918 and £58,760. Source: Judgment 12426 (PDF).
26 Apr 2023. Andrew Hugh Butler, Worthingtons. Transferred client money by raising three false invoices without notice to clients, and failed to bank about £70,000 of estate remittances over 25 years. Admitted dishonesty. Outcome: Strike-off; costs £16,650. 2011 rules 17.2 and 20. £19,290 improperly transferred. Source: Judgment 12445 (PDF).

SRA fines and rebukes without a tribunal

Since 2022 the SRA can fine a solicitor up to £25,000 and a firm more, without a tribunal. These are the client money decisions published on the SRA's record checker; a regulatory settlement agreement (RSA) is an agreed outcome.

21 Sep 2026. Mahfuzur Rahman, Spencer West LLP (RSA). Eighteen payments from the client account across four matters that were not tied to legal services, some to companies controlled by him or his family, from September 2022 to May 2023. Outcome: Fine £4,950 plus £1,350 costs. Rule 3.3. Source: SRA decision.
31 Jul 2026. Bryn Roberts, Evans Roberts. A client account shortage lasting almost three years; no reconciliations; a qualified accountant's report filed late; undertakings and complaints failures. Outcome: Fine £20,149 plus £1,350 costs. Rules 4.3, 5.1, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.3. Shortage £30,849; debit balances £1,518. Source: SRA decision.
7 Jul 2026. Jay Allan Tooker, Holman Fenwick Willan LLP (RSA). Twenty-two payments from the client account for a yacht client's crew wages, storage and insurance in 2021. Outcome: Fine £24,862 plus £1,350 costs. Rule 3.3. €150,410 and US$262,427. Source: SRA decision.
6 Jul 2026. Paul Harfitt, Paul Harfitt and Co (RSA). Rent for two properties paid into the client account for years as property management, not legal services. Outcome: Written rebuke plus £300 costs. Rule 3.3 (2011 rule 14.5 earlier). Source: SRA decision.
8 Jun 2026. Charsley Harrison LLP. No accountant's reports obtained or delivered for five years (2020 to 2025), all of which would have been qualified; dormant client balances since 2019. Outcome: Fine £18,552 plus £1,425 costs. Rules 2.5 and 12.1. About £113,560 held without reason. Source: SRA decision.
4 Jun 2026. Malika Williams-Gregoire, Hepburns Solicitors LLP (COFA and COLP). Inaccurate ledgers caused a cash shortage; reconciliations unsigned. Outcome: Fine £5,276 plus £1,350 costs. Rules 5.3 and 8.3. Intervention 13 November 2023. Source: SRA decision.
5 Mar 2026. Martin John Welch, Morton Pugh Welch (agreed outcome). No accountant's reports for four years; 110 residual balances dating back to 2002 kept after the firm was sold. Outcome: Fine £2,387 plus £600 costs. Rules 2.5 and 12.1. £54,721 in February 2024, falling to £9,228. Source: SRA decision.
8 Mar 2024 and 4 Mar 2026. Obaseki and Co Ltd. Over £500,000 accepted from unconnected overseas third parties; over £4,000 moved from client to office account across six matters; money held for over five years. The firm was later closed by intervention. Outcome: Fine £9,000 plus £1,350 costs (2024); intervention 4 March 2026. Rules 2.5, 5.1 and 6.1 (2011 rules 14.3 and 14.4). Shortage £4,327 in September 2021. Source: SRA decision.
16 Jan 2026. Murat Cem Kinas, Kinas Solicitors Ltd (RSA). An unexplained difference of £33,457 between the client account and the ledgers was left unresolved for 21 months; no accountant's reports delivered for seven years. Outcome: Fine £14,318 plus £600 costs. Rules 8.3 and 12.1 (2011 rule 32). Source: SRA decision.
4 Nov 2025. Brockbank Curwen Cain and Hall Ltd. Aged residual balances from 2016 still held five years after an SRA inspection flagged them. Outcome: Rebuke plus £300 costs. Rules 2.5 and 6.1 (2011 rule 14.3). £324,010 on 216 matters in 2019, reduced to £34,841 on 47 matters by August 2025. Source: SRA decision.
5 Sep 2025. Christopher Paul Topping, Jackson Lees Group Ltd. Twenty-one payments of a client's damages to prisoners and associates on the client's instruction; the client later said he had been coerced. Outcome: Rebuke plus £600 costs. Rule 3.3. £37,640. Source: SRA decision.
21 Aug 2025. Mohammed Mahbubul Islam, Knightbridge Law Ltd (COFA). A shortage built up over 18 months from mis-banking and overpayments; 17 reconciliations missed and 15 late. No misappropriation. Outcome: Fine £6,190 plus £300 costs. Rules 2.3, 5.3, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.3. Shortage £15,163. Source: SRA decision.
15 Apr 2025. Sally Louise Hutchings, Morr and Co LLP (RSA). Four transfers of a client's money to a third party after the client's bank froze his account, with no underlying legal transaction. A tribunal referral was withdrawn. Outcome: Fine £13,500 plus £10,000 costs and a training undertaking. Rule 3.3. £1,407,163 transferred. Source: SRA decision.
27 Feb 2025. Christofi Wells and Co (RSA). Two late accountant's reports; residual balances across hundreds of matters since 2017; clients not written to. Outcome: Rebuke plus £600 costs. Rules 2.5 and 12.1 (2011 rules 14.3 and 14.4). £288,843 on 369 matters in 2020; £54,840 on 92 matters in 2024. Source: SRA decision.
8 Jan 2025. Paul Corren, Gunnercooke LLP (consultant, RSA). Receipts and payments through the client account for a person and three companies with no link to legal services, from December 2020 to May 2022. Outcome: Fine £14,116 plus £1,350 costs. Rule 3.3. Receipts £951,945; payments £578,233. Source: SRA decision.
7 Nov 2024. Anthony David Kerman, Armstrong Teasdale Ltd (RSA). Twenty-three client account payments for three clients' investments, credit cards and jewellery with no legal transaction; inadequate source of funds checks. Outcome: Fine £35,280 plus £1,350 costs. Rule 3.3. About £13.8 million. Source: SRA decision.
31 May 2024. Akef Mohammed Akbar, Tyler Hoffman Ltd (RSA). Thirty over-transfers and overpayments causing a shortage; no accountant's reports; no three-way reconciliations. Outcome: Fine £5,008 plus £600 costs. Rules 8.1, 8.3 and 12.1. Shortage £7,126. Source: SRA decision.
25 Apr 2024. Ronald Dewar Hogan, Dewar Hogan. Three ledgers for a partner and a family member run through the client account for ten years with no legal transaction. Outcome: Fine £14,528 plus £1,350 costs. Rule 3.3 (2011 rule 14.5). Source: SRA decision.
25 Mar 2024. Andrew Nyamayaro, Tann Law Solicitors Ltd (RSA). No books of account or cash book, an unexplained cash shortage, wrong client-to-office transfers and no reconciliations; COFA duties not met in 2018 and 2019. The shortage was repaid from his own funds. Outcome: Fine £1,980 plus £675 costs. 2011 rule 2. Source: SRA decision.

What the SRA has published and what is changing

The SRA's own reviews and its 2026 decisions, with the figures they contain.

Date	Document	What it says	Source
2 Jun 2026	SRA decision: safeguards to protect client money	Every firm holding client money must submit an annual accountant's report and a declaration; fixed penalties for late or missing reports; firms with turnover above £600,000 or holding over £2 million of client money must separate the COLP and COFA from the senior decision-makers. Awaiting Legal Services Board approval; expected in force early 2027.	Press release
Nov 2025 to Feb 2026	Further consultation on client money	A spot check of 596 firms found 25 non-exempt firms had not obtained an accountant's report for their last period and 31 had obtained one late. 3,525 firms (39%) have turnover above £600,000 and hold 93% of reported client money; over 130 smaller firms reported a peak balance above £5 million.	Consultation
11 Dec 2025	Compliance officers thematic review	25 firms and 36 compliance officers: 19% of COFAs had no financial background; 86% of compliance officers had made no report to the SRA in three years; 1,377 internal breach records produced 9 SRA referrals; 41% of firms kept only partial breach records and 11% had none.	Review
Nov 2024	Client money consumer protection arrangements	Consumer research behind the review; notes interventions doubled in 2023 against 2022; Compensation Fund caps of £2 million per claim and £5 million for linked claims.	Report
Annual	Client protection and Compensation Fund reports	Interventions and Compensation Fund payments by year (table above); contributions of £90 per solicitor and £2,220 per firm in 2024/25, £70 and £1,950 in 2025/26.	2023/24 report and Fund accounts 2025

What the pattern shows

Three failures account for most of the cases. The first is a client account that nobody reconciles: no cash book, no five-weekly three-way reconciliation, no accountant's report, so a shortage runs for months or years before anyone outside the firm sees it (Cruickshank, Patel, Azotam, Radcliffe, Kinas). The second is the client account used as a bank: money moved for a client, a partner or a stranger with no legal work behind it, which the SRA now fines routinely under rule 3.3 whatever the amount (Armstrong Teasdale, Morr and Co, Gunnercooke, Holman Fenwick Willan). The third is residual balances left for years, which draw a penalty even when no client loses a penny (YVA, Brockbank Curwen Cain and Hall, Christofi Wells, Charsley Harrison).

The direction of travel is set: from early 2027 every firm holding client money will have to deliver an accountant's report every year and declare it, and the SRA has said late or missing reports will attract fixed penalties. A firm that reconciles its client account every business day, clears its residual balances and can show both to the reporting accountant has nothing in this tracker to fear.

Safeheld reconciles client money every business day for regulated firms, works every difference to its cause and keeps the record the reporting accountant asks for, and is extending that work to law firm client accounts. If your firm holds client money under the SRA Accounts Rules, talk to us about client account reconciliation.

Frequently asked questions

Which SRA Accounts Rules are breached most often?

In the cases since 2023: rules 8.1 and 8.3 (accounting records and five-weekly reconciliations), rule 12.1 (accountant's report), rules 5.1 and 6.1 (improper withdrawals and failure to replace a shortage), rule 2.5 (residual balances) and rule 3.3 (the client account used as a banking facility).

What is the penalty for using the client account as a banking facility?

Rule 3.3 cases are now mostly dealt with by SRA fines without a tribunal, from £4,950 (Spencer West, 2026) to £35,280 (Armstrong Teasdale, 2024), with costs. Where the conduct is combined with a shortage or dishonesty it goes to the tribunal and can end in suspension or strike-off.

How many law firms does the SRA close each year over client money?

The SRA intervened in 42 firms in the year to 31 October 2025, 59 in 2023/24 and 65 in 2022/23, up from 25 in 2021/22. Not every intervention is about client money, but a client account shortage or missing records is the most common ground.

How much does the Compensation Fund pay out?

£46.4 million in the year to 31 October 2025, £27.9 million in 2023/24 and £41 million in 2022/23, driven by the Axiom Ince and Metamorph failures. The fund is paid for by solicitors and firms: £90 per solicitor and £2,220 per firm in 2024/25.

Do residual balances lead to penalties if no client loses money?

Yes. YVA Solicitors was fined for holding £12.8 million of sale proceeds for 13 months with no loss; Brockbank Curwen Cain and Hall and Christofi Wells were rebuked for aged balances across hundreds of matters; Charsley Harrison was fined £18,552 in 2026 for dormant balances and five years of missing accountant's reports.

What is changing in 2027?

The SRA decided on 2 June 2026 that every firm holding client money must submit an annual accountant's report and a declaration, with fixed penalties for late or missing reports, and that larger firms must separate their compliance officers from the senior decision-makers. The changes take effect once the Legal Services Board approves them, expected early 2027.

How often is this tracker updated?

It is reviewed whenever the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal publishes a judgment or the SRA publishes a decision involving client money, and the review date at the top of the page is updated each time.

References

About Safeheld

Safeheld reconciles client money every day, resolves every difference and prepares every regulatory return for sign-off, for regulated firms in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. To discuss your operations, contact us at safeheld.com/contact.

This tracker is compiled from public primary sources for general information and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Figures are as stated in the source documents and may be revised by the courts, the administrators or the FCA.

SRA client account enforcement tracker: every tribunal and SRA decision on client money since 2023