The shock shutdown of north-west legal firm Butterworths Solicitors has left property transactions in limbo.
6th Feb 20260 880 1 minute read Simon Cairnes
Cumbria-based estate agency Mark Buchanan Property Group has had to issue client guidance after the shock closure of Butterworths Solicitors left sales and purchases unable to progress, with the Solicitors Regulation Authority now involved.
Sign on doorAccording to the BBC, there was a sign left on the door of its Kendal branch in Stricklandgate, saying it could “no longer trade”, adding: “Due to regulatory matters, the PM Group of Businesses carried out within this building can no longer trade.”
According to the BBC, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) said the firm, which has branches in Penrith, Carlisle and Whitehaven, had “not closed in the manner we would expect” and said it would be contacting its partners to remind them of their “professional obligations”.
The sudden closure of PM Law and associated firms has understandably come as a shock.”
Mark Buchanan, Mark Buchanan Property Group
Mark Buchanan of Mark Buchanan Property Group, which is powered by EXP, says: “The sudden closure of PM Law and associated firms has understandably come as a shock, and our thoughts are very much with the people affected, particularly those who were due to move imminently and are now left in limbo with little information.
“Situations like this are rare, but when a firm closes unexpectedly, the usual process is for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to intervene and appoint another firm to take over the files. Until that happens and clients have alternative legal representation in place, transactions can’t progress, which is where the frustration and uncertainty comes from.”
He added that some clients may be better off “proactively instruct[ing] a new solicitor rather than wait”, while those further advanced “may be sensible to wait for the SRA to reallocate the file”, although “some delay is unfortunately unavoidable”.
Butterworths Solicitors were approached for comment, but the phone line appeared not to be working.
TagsSolicitors Regulation Authority 6th Feb 20260 880 1 minute read Simon Cairnes Share Facebook X LinkedIn Share via Email