The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today (16 October) published
its independent review of the regulatory events leading up to the
Solicitors Regulation Authority's (SRA) intervention into the
collapsed law firm SSB Group Limited, finding that wholesale
change is needed to respond to early warning signs to prevent
future consumer harm.
“The independent review reveals that the SRA received more than
100 reports about patterns of conduct in SSB's handling of claims
and it once again shows the SRA as lacking grip on managing key
risks and responding adequately to protect consumers,” said Law
Society of England and Wales president Mark Evans.
“The report lays bare a lack of leadership and oversight of
regulatory procedures and processes at the SRA. This is despite
knowing the risks posed by bulk cavity wall insulation cases, the
previous failure of Pure Legal from which the SRA transferred
clients to SSB, and multiple reports from MPs, other lawyers,
industry and the victims themselves. A key concern must be the
treatment of vulnerable victims by the SRA.
“We know that the SRA will imminently have new leadership and
that change comes at a crucial time for the organisation, which
has been severely dented by the outcome of both the Axiom Ince
and SSB reviews. In the space of 12 months both independent
reviews separately concluded that the SRA failed to act
adequately, effectively and efficiently and failed to take all
the steps it should and could have taken. This cannot just be
about improving systems and processes but requires culture change
and focused leadership.
“The sanctions by the LSB are a necessary step but strong and
continuing oversight of the SRA is needed to ensure it acts on
the report's recommendations swiftly and comprehensively. The SRA
must get back to basics and ensure its operations are joined up
and focused on protecting consumers. The profession and consumers
have been badly let down by the actions of SSB and the failings
of the SRA.”
Notes to editors
- Read the LSB's independent review in full (to follow on 16
October 2025)
- Read the Law Society's
response to the LSB's independent review of the regulatory
events leading up to the SRA's intervention into Axiom
Ince
- Read the Law Society's
response following the LSB's binding directions to the SRA
following the independent review
