Legal Services Act 2007

Legal Services Act 2007

2007 CHAPTER 29

Commentary on Sections

Part 5: Alternative Business Structures

Background

Section 102: Intervention

268. This section introduces Schedule 14 which makes provision about the circumstances in which a licensing authority may intervene in the practice of a licensed body, and the powers exercisable upon intervention. The intervention grounds and powers are based on those available to the Law Society and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) under the Solicitors Act 1974 and Administration of Justice Act 1985 as amended by Schedules 16 and 17 of this Act.

269. Paragraph 1 of the Schedule provides that a licensing authority may intervene in a licensed body as set out in the Schedule where a licence granted to a body has expired or where one or more of the conditions set out at sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 1 are satisfied.

270. Under sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) of paragraph 1, the powers in the Schedule are exercisable in relation to a body whose licence has been suspended or revoked, or whose license has expired or ceased to have effect.

271. Paragraph 2 provides that a licensing authority can apply to the High Court for an order to prohibit a person who is holding money on behalf of a licensed body from making any payment of that money, unless they have the leave of the High Court to do so.

272. Under paragraph 3, certain sums of money held by or on behalf of the licensed body, and the right to recover or receive them, can be vested in the licensing authority for people who are beneficially entitled to them. The sums of money are then held on trust by the licensing authority for persons that are beneficially entitled to them, and for use in exercising its intervention powers. Sub-paragraphs (5) to (9) of paragraph 3 set out procedure relating to such vesting, and procedure by which the licensing authority must give the licensed body, and anyone else who has money that is subject to the decision, a copy of the decision and a notice prohibiting any payments out of the money. Sub-paragraph (6) of paragraph 3 allows the body and anyone else who receives the notice to apply to the High Court to contest the licensing authority’s decision. If the licensed body or other person breaches the notice, it commits an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

273. Under paragraph 4, a licensing authority may decide that the right to recover debts of the licensed body should vest in it.

274. Paragraph 5 requires the licensing authority to put any money that it receives by virtue of these vesting powers into a special account in either its name or the name of a nominated person. The money is held on trust for persons beneficially entitled, and for use in exercising the intervention powers. Paragraph 6 enables the licensing authority to make rules governing the treatment of such money, particularly where, despite reasonable steps by the licensing authority, beneficiaries cannot be traced.

275. Paragraph 7 allows a licensing authority to apply to the High Court for an order requiring a person to give the licensing authority information about any money held by that person on behalf of a licensed body, and the accounts in which it is held. Licensing authorities may also require information that is relevant for tracing purposes.

276. A licensing authority may also give notice to a licensed body requiring it to produce all the documents in its possession or under its control relating to its activities as a licensed body, or to certain trusts. Paragraph 8 sets out what the notice may require. Sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 8 makes it an offence to refuse, neglect or otherwise fail to comply with the notice. Under sub-paragraph (6) of paragraph 8, a person found guilty is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. However, it is not an offence if the licensing authority has made an application to the High Court for the production or delivery of the documents. Paragraph 9 sets out the procedure to be followed by the High Court in considering and implementing an order. Paragraph 10 sets out the procedure that a licensing authority must follow if it takes possession of documents under notice or order, as detailed in paragraph 8 and 9.

277. Under paragraph 11, a licensing authority may apply to the High Court for a Communications Redirection Order for a period not exceeding 18 months, which causes mail, telephone and electronic communications to be directed to the licensing authority, or to a person appointed by the licensing authority, who may take possession or receipt of the communications. Sub-paragraph (8) of paragraph 11 allows the licensing authority to apply to the High Court to take steps in relation to a licensed body’s website, for the purpose of protecting the public interest and/or the interests of any current, former or potential clients of the body. Sub-paragraph (10) of paragraph 11 prevents licensing authorities from applying for these powers where they have intervened on the grounds of undue delay.

278. Paragraph 12 allows a licensing authority in possession of documents acquired through notices, orders, or communications redirection (paragraphs 8, 9 or 11) to apply to the High Court for an order to dispose of, or destroy, the documents. The High Court may make any order it thinks fit. Under paragraph 13 a licensing authority may take copies of, or extracts from, documents acquired through notices, orders or communications redirection.

279. Where a licensed body, or one of its managers or employees, is the trustee of any trust, paragraph 14 allows the licensing authority to apply to the High Court to order the appointment of a new trustee in substitution for that person.

280. Paragraph 15 allows the powers conferred by this Schedule in relation to sums of money and documents to be exercised despite any lien on them or right to their possession. Paragraph 16 allows the licensing authority to do all things that are reasonably necessary to facilitate the exercise of its powers under this Schedule.

281. Paragraphs 17 and 18 set out how the licensing authority may recover its intervention costs from the licensed body. Under paragraph 18, the licensing authority can apply to the High Court to recover costs from certain persons where the Court is satisfied that the conduct that led to the intervention was carried on with the consent or connivance of, or was attributable to any neglect on the part of, those persons.