Scarborough legal firm North Yorkshire Law is closed down after suspected dishonesty by partner

North Yorkshire Law, which has offices on Albemarle Crescent in Scarborough and Baxtergate in Whitby, has shut after intervention by The Solicitors Regulation Authority,

The grounds of intervention are suspected dishonesty on the part of Richard Charles Boyd, a managing partner of the firm.

No further details have been disclosed.

As well as the firm shutting, Mr Boyd’s practising certificate has been automatically suspended so he cannot practise as a solicitor.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has taken possession of all documents, papers and money held by the firm, including clients' money.

An agent has been appointed to deal with all matters currently held by North Yorkshire Law.

That agent will assess all ongoing matters and deal with those of greatest need first. The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s archive team will take control of all documents held by the firm.

It said clients of North Yorkshire Law do not need to contact either the agent or the authority at this time but anyone with queries can contact the agent, John Owen of Gordons LLP, on 0113 227 0230 or at [email protected].

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is not responsible towards employees or trade creditors of firms that it has intervened in.

It will now investigate further to see if any additional action is necessary.

According to its website, North Yorkshire Law was formed in 2000 with the amalgamation of several local firms including Marshall Edwards Boyd & Tubbs, Buchannan & White, Pearson & Whitfield, George Cass Rylands, Drabble & Co, Pearson Till, and Michael Carter.

It specialised in probate, conveyancing and civil litigation matters.