Busy solicitors firm in Milton Keynes is closed down suddenly as part of investigation by regulatory body

Officials from the SRA swooped in the offices of Austin Ray in Bletchley yesterday, seizing files and papers and all money held by the firm - including clients' money.

The intervention was launched because the SRA is investigating Austin Ray owners Kingly Solicitors.

The grounds of intervention are an alleged failure by three Kingly lawyer managers, Simon Hutcheson, Simon Peacock and Champitka Ratnayake, to comply with SRA rules.

There is also "a reason to suspect dishonesty" on behalf of Nural Miah, who is a manager of Kingly Solicitors, says the SRA.

Austin Ray was one of 14 firms of Kingly-owned solicitors closed this week as part of the investigation. These include two firms in nearby Leighton Buzzard - Ray Nixon Brown solicitors in Church Square and Giffen Couch and Archer at Bridge House.

Austin Ray occupy the former offices of Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council in Queensway. They have been renting from the town council since its move to Bletchley library.

The lawyers in the office deal with conveyancing, employment, property, family, personal injury, accident, family law, litigation, divorce, compensation, wills and probate matters.

"We walked past the Austin Ray office yesterday and saw all this activity, with people taking files and stuff. They put a notice on the door saying it was closing down, It was all quite dramatic," said a member of the public.

It is understood clients in the middle of property conveyancing matters were given a chance to collect their papers so their purchase or sale would not be held up.

The SRA is the regulator of more than 180,000 solicitors and law firms in England and Wales. Its purpose is to protect the public by ensuring that solicitors meet high standards, and by acting when risks are identified.

A spokesman said: "An intervention means the SRA has closed a firm with immediate effect. It will stop the firm from operating, take possession of all documents and papers held by the firm, and take possession of all money held by the firm (including clients' money). It is not responsible towards employees or trade creditors of firms that it has intervened in."

The SRA has appointed two agents to deal with all matters currently held by Kingly Solicitors. The agents, who are solicitors, will assess all ongoing matters and deal with those of greatest need first. The SRA's archive team will take control of all documents held by the firm.

A further investigation will now be held to see if any additional action is necessary. At this stage of the SRA's work, no further details can be disclosed.

"At this stage of the SRA's work, no further details can be disclosed...It is only if further action become necessary that any information is released into the public domain. There is no timescale for how long this work will take," said the spokesman.

Further action against solicitors could be a sanction carried out by the SRA, which could range from reprimand to a fine.

If it is decided that a stiffer punishment is required, the SRA will prosecute the matter at the independent Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), which can levy unlimited fines and prevent solicitors from working either by suspending them or removing them from the profession altogether

Meanwhile, the practising certificate of Lawyer managers Mr Hutcheson, Mr Peacock and Ms Ratnayake have been automatically suspended, so they cannot practice as a solicitor. Mr Miah is not a solicitor.

Clients of Kingly Solicitors do not need to contact either the agents or the SRA at this time. If anyone does have a query, however, they can contact the agents using the details below:

James Dunn, Devonshires Solicitors LLP, email: [email protected], or call 0207 065 1830.

John Owen, Gordons LLP, email: [email protected], or call 0113 227 0360.