Seth Lovis & Co Solicitors cease trading

The Law Society Gazette reported yesterday that Seth Lovis & Co Solicitors, based in Bloomsbury, London had immediately ceased trading.

The firm specialised in personal injury, industrial disease, professional negligence, financial mis-selling, commercial and insolvency litigation, and family.

Whilst it is always sad to see a company in difficulties, especially for the staff, the clients' interests are of paramount importance. It is not clear whether clients were given any advance notice.

Any former clients of Seth Lovis & Co affected by this should consider the decision in Gill -v- Heer Manak, in which the High Court found that where solicitors terminated their retainer without reasonable notice, they were not entitled to payment of any fee.

It is essential that such notice as is given is "reasonable". If the notice is not "reasonable" then the firm cannot point to any applicable provision departing from the general principle that remuneration can only be claimed when all work has been completed, or when there is a natural break. In the absence of reasonable notice, the firm would accordingly be unable to claim for the costs which were sought before the master.

Mr.Justice Walker, Gill -v- Heer Manak