What has happened to Devereux & Co?

Devereux & Co, 52a High Street, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3DZ, has been closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (‘the SRA’). This is called an intervention. The intervention took place on 31 January 2022. Shakespeare Martineau of 1 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B4 6AA is helping with the closure.

Please contact Shakespeare Martineau’s Interventions Team on 0300 2472470. if you wish to speak to someone or email interventions@shma.co.uk

What does this mean?

Unfortunately, the closed firm can no longer act for you and you will need to find another solicitor. We have not taken over the closed firm and cannot act for you.

You can choose any solicitor you like to act for you. If you don’t know another solicitor, then your local Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help you. If you have internet access, you can also search for a new solicitor on The Law Society.

What happens to my file?

You can have your file sent to you or to your new solicitor.
If your matter is legally aided, then your file can only be released to a solicitor who undertakes this type of work.

If there are two or more of you named as clients, you will need to agree on where the file should be sent. If you want your file to be sent to you, you will need to provide some copy identification. It will not cost you anything to have your documents sent.

What happens to my money?

The money in the closed firm's bank accounts has been transferred to the SRA.

Shakespeare Martineau or the SRA will look at the closed firm’s accounts to work out who the money belongs to. The SRA will try to return any money the closed firm was holding for you.

How do I access an old closed file, will, deed or another record?

If your enquiry relates to a will, deed or another document of record that the intervened solicitors were holding for you then your file (if recovered) will be held at the SRA’s intervention archiving department.

We do not hold any files that relate to closed or completed cases, wills or deeds at our offices. These files are held at the SRA’s archiving department.

The SRA’s archiving department will be in touch to see what you would like to happen to your documents. If however, you have not heard from them yet then you can arrange to complete a file request form which can be accessed from the SRA’s website alternatively you can contact them at interventionarchivefile@sra.org.uk or telephone them at 0204 525 0250.

You will need to make an application for money to be returned to you.

If the closed firm's accounts are not in good order, it might be hard to work out exactly how much money is owed—and to who. For that reason, it might take us or the SRA some time to return your money.

If the money cannot be returned to you or only part of it can, you can apply to the SRA Compensation Fund.

If you urgently need money that the closed firm was holding for you, you can apply for a payment.

There is no guarantee that you will get a payment. You must prove that the solicitor was holding your money and satisfy the Fund’s other rules.

For more information, please email claims.management@sra.org.uk or telephone 0121 820 2580.

How can I get more information?

Find out more about SRA interventions by clicking here. If you would like to talk to someone in our team at Shakespeare Martineau, please call 0300 2472470.