Intervention of Graham John Harvey and Harvey Associates Limited

Intervention into (1) Graham John Harvey and (2) Harvey Associates Limited (referred to below as Harvey Associates)

What has happened to Harvey Associates?

Harvey Associates of Audley House, 13 Palace Street, London, England, SW1E 5HX has been closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (‘the SRA’). This is called an intervention. The individual practice of Mr Graham John Harvey has also been intervened into.

The intervention took place on 23 November 2023.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP 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, Harvey Associates can no longer act for you and you will need to find another solicitor or law firm to represent you. Shakespeare Martineau has not taken over the closed firm and does not act for you.

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

https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/

Alternatively, you may telephone the Law Society on 020 7320 5650 Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00.

What happens to my money?

The money in Harvey Associates’ client account has been transferred to the SRA.

Shakespeare Martineau or the SRA will look at the bank statements and Harvey Associates’ financial records to work out who the money belongs to. The SRA will try to return any money the closed firm was holding for you.

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

If the Harvey Associates’ accounts are not in good order, it might be hard to work out 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. More information may be found via this link:  https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/compensation-fund/

If you urgently need money that the closed firm was holding for you, you can apply to the SRA’s Compensation Fund for a payment.

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

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

What happens to my file?

You can have your file sent to you or to your new solicitor.

If your matter is funded by Legal Aid, your file can only be released to a solicitor who undertakes the type of work in question.

If there are two or more of you named as clients, you will need to agree 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 to 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 Harvey Associates was holding for you then your file (if recovered) will be held at the SRA’s intervention archiving department.

We do not routinely hold any files that relate to closed or completed cases, wills or deeds at our offices. Such 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:

https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/claim-papers/#intervention-archive

Alternatively, you can contact them at interventionarchivefile@sra.org.uk or telephone them at 0204-525-0250.

How can I get more information?

Find out more about SRA interventions by visiting their website:

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

If you would like to talk to someone in our team at Shakespeare Martineau, please call 0300 2472470.