A new-model firm set up to offer online legal advice to small and medium-sized businesses has been shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. According to a notice posted today, the SRA has intervened into Lawbriefs Limited of Long Acre, London, on the basis that ‘One or more of the terms of the firm’s licence have not been complied with (paragraph 1(2)(a) of Schedule 14 to the Legal Services Act 2007).’
Lawbriefs was the regulated entity behind LawBite, a subscription service set up in 2014 with the ambition to ‘democratise’ law to small businesses. The Gazette revealed last week that the company behind the venture, Lawbit Ltd, had appointed administrators. The Gazette also revealed that Lawbrief Ltd’s accounts, which were due by 31 May, are overdue, as is the company’s confirmation statement.
Chris Evans of Lester Aldridge, Russell House, Oxford Road, Bournemouth, has been appointed as the intervening agent into Lawbriefs. It is unclear how many solicitors are affected by the closure.
