Judicial Factor appointed to Paisley law firm

Morna Grandison, director of interventions at the Law Society, was appointed by the court as the interim Judicial Factor. As an Officer of the Court, the Judicial Factor will act independently of the Law Society and take the appropriate steps in connection with the ongoing management of the practice. She will also respond to queries from clients.

The application was made to the court to protect clients’ interests after the Law Society’s inspection of the firm’s books when concerns were raised about the accounting records. Following a decision by the Law Society’s client protection sub-committee, two solicitors at the firm, Iain Robertson and Alastair Blackwood, were suspended from practice on Thursday, 4 August. They will be unable to practice as solicitors until further notice.

Lorna Jack, chief executive at the Law Society, said: “We take our responsibility to protect the public extremely seriously and set and enforce high standards for Scottish solicitors. We have a range of consumer protections in place including carrying out regular inspections and investigations into the books, records and conduct of law firms in Scotland.

“We can confirm that solicitors Iain Robertson and Alastair Blackwood were suspended from practice following an inspection by the Law Society’s financial compliance team and a Judicial Factor has been appointed.

“The first job of the Judicial Factor is to secure the premises of Robertson and Ross and all of the accounting records and make arrangements for the continuation of ongoing legal work. Clients of the firm who have any queries can contact the Law Society on 0131 476 8195.”