Intervention into Tinkler Solicitors Limited

The intervention into Tinkler Solicitors Limited T/A Tinkler, Spiro & Steele and the practice of Richard John Tinkler, including, but not limited to, his practice at Tinkler Solicitors (“the Intervened Firms”)

Tinkler Solicitors Limited T/A Tinkler, Spiro & Steele (SRA ID: 8006767) and the practice of Richard John Tinkler (SRA ID: 144351), including but not limited to, his practice at Tinkler Solicitors (SRA ID: 387822), HAVE BEEN INTERVENED BY THE SOLICITORS REGULATION AUTHORITY (“THE SRA”)

The above firms have been intervened by the SRA to protect the interests of clients and former clients.

Please contact the SRA’s intervention agents at Shakespeare Martineau LLP via post at SHMA SRA Interventions, PO Box 18228, Birmingham B2 2HX, via telephone at 0300 247 2470 or via email at interventions@shma.co.uk.

What has happened to the Intervened Firms?

Tinkler Solicitors Limited of 40 High Street, Needham Market, Ipswich IP6 8AP and the practice of Richard John Tinkler, including, but not limited to, his practice at Tinkler Solicitors of Sproughton House, Sproughton, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3AW have been closed down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. This is called an intervention. The intervention took place on 13 November 2024.

Shakespeare Martineau of 1 Colmore Square, Birmingham, B4 6AA is helping with the closure.

Please contact Shakespeare Martineau’s Interventions Team on 0300 247 2470 if you wish to speak to someone or email interventions@shma.co.uk

What does this mean?

The Intervened Firms (including any former staff members, including, but not limited to, Richard John Tinkler and Adam McMahon) can no longer act for you. You will need to find another solicitor. We have not taken over the Intervened Firms and cannot act for you.

You can choose any solicitor you like to act for you. If you do not know another solicitor then your local Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help you with this. If you have access to the internet you can also search for solicitors in your area by visiting The Law Society’s website at www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor or by calling the Law Society on 020 7320 5650 Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00.

If you need a legal aid lawyer, you can find one here: https://find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk/. If you have a live legal aid certificate, we can only send your file to another legal aid lawyer.

What happens to my money?

The money in the closed firm’s bank accounts have been transferred to the SRA.

Shakespeare Martineau or the SRA will look at the Intervened Firms’ accounts to work out who the money belongs to. The SRA will try to return any money the Intervened Firms were holding for you.

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

If the Intervened Firms’ 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’s Compensation Fund for a grant.

If you urgently need money that the Intervened Firms were holding for you, you can apply to the Compensation Fund 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

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 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.

The SRA is in the process of collecting all client files and documents from the Intervened Firms’ office(s) or storage location(s).

If your file has been recovered, we or the SRA will write to tell you and ask you where you would like your file to be sent.

You or your new lawyer should let us know as soon as possible where you would like your file to be sent as there may be important time limits in place.

It is possible to support your new solicitors with making progress quickly by sending them any correspondence or documentation that you received before the intervention took place. They may also be able to access information from other solicitors/organisations involved in the matter.

How can I obtain my will, deed an old closed file or another record?

All wills and deeds held by the Intervened Firms are now stored at the SRA’s intervention archives department who will contact you.

A request for wills or deeds can also be made by email: interventionarchivefile@sra.org.uk or by telephone: 0204 525 0250

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

It is important to note that the intervention does not affect the validity of your will. However, if your will names one of the Intervened Firms or a director/partner of one of the Intervened Firms as an executor, then we recommend that you take time to consider the appointment.

All deeds and other original documents held in storage by the firm are being collected. If you wish to get hold of deeds / original documents please contact us. You will also need to complete our identity checks.

How can I get more information?

Find out more about interventions at the SRA’s website:

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

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

I want to complain about the Intervened Firms? What can I do?

If you wish to complain or have already lodged a complaint about service then you can contact the Legal Ombudsman in addition to ourselves. Further information can be found at https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/ and they can be contacted by email at enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk or by telephone on 0300 555 0333 or by post at:

Legal Ombudsman

PO Box 6167

Slough

SL1 0EH

We are not representatives of the Intervened Firms so will not be handling complaints, but we are keen to find out any information that may help us in dealing with the intervention in returning files and monies to the rightful owners.

I was an employee of one of the Intervened Firms. What can I do?

We understand that this is an extremely difficult time for you. Our role is to focus purely on the protection of clients and supporting them in whatever way we can. We are not a representative or a successor practice to the Intervened Firms. We are therefore unable to deal with issues relating to your employment.

Please feel free to contact us with any information that you believe may support us in our role of supporting clients. Regarding your personal employment position, you may find the following links supportive:

https://www.acas.org.uk/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk

https://www.lawcare.org.uk/