Martin Darren
Rounthwaite
Solicitor
190463
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 27 April 2024
Published date: 17 July 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Pro-Law Network
Address(es): 180 Market Street, Hyde, SK14 1EX
Firm ID: 384801
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Martin Rounthwaite's practising certificate for 2023/2024 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Rounthwaite shall not act as a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Mr Rounthwaite is not a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or a compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) of an authorised body.
- Mr Rounthwaite shall not provide reserved or unreserved legal services on his own account under regulations 10.2(a) or (b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
In these conditions condition the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest. They are reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations, and the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activities as contained in section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
Outcome date: 21 October 2022
Published date: 19 June 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Pro-Law Network
Address(es): 180 Market Street, Hyde SK14 1EX
Firm ID: 384801
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Reasons/basis
This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which will reach its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Solicitor. The Tribunal has certified that there is a case to answer in respect of allegations which are or include that, while in practice as a solicitor, as sole practitioner through Pro-Law Network and as Compliance Officer for Legal Practice of the Firm, he:-
- On various dates between August 2016 and 16 September 2019, having received payment of funds in respect of his firm's costs and disbursements, failed to pay disbursements or to pay the funds into client account.
- Between 2017 and June 2019, failed to notify the SRA of the Firm's serious financial difficulties.
- Breached undertakings given to SSL on or around 5 March 2013 in the following respects:
- Failed to account to SSL for that proportion of costs paid to the Firm on or around May 2017 which were due to SSL and subject to a lien;
- Failed to advise SSL immediately or at all upon the settlement of the client's claim;
- Failed to provide SSL with an update every six months regarding the file progression and recoverability of costs;
- In emails dated 20 July 2017, 5 December 2017 and 5 February 2018, made inaccurate and misleading statements to SSL to the effect that costs in a road traffic accident claim had not been agreed and would proceed to a Detailed Assessment when, in fact, the costs had been agreed and paid to the Firm in or around May 2017.
- Between around 17 June 2019 and 18 February 2020, failed to effect an orderly closure of the Firm.
The allegations are subject to a Hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven.
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 4 April 2023
Published date: 31 May 2023
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Pro-Law Network
Address(es): 180 Market Street HYDE SK14 1EX
Firm ID: 384801
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: SSB Group Limited
Address(es): Navigation House, South Quay Drive, Sheffield, S2 5SU
Firm ID: 654321
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Martin Rounthwaite’s practising certificate for 2022 / 2023 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Rounthwaite shall not act as a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Mr Rounthwaite is not a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or a compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) of an authorised body.
- Mr Rounthwaite shall not provide reserved or unreserved legal services on his own account under regulations 10.2(a) or (b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
- Mr Rounthwaite will pay in full, or enter into an instalment plan or other agreed outcome with the SRA for, the intervention costs of £24,419.75 prior to the renewal of his 2023/2024 practising certificate.
In these conditions, the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest. They are reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations, and the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activities as contained in section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 18 February 2022
Published date: 5 April 2022
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Pro-Law Network
Address(es): 180 Market Street, Hyde, SK14 1EX
Firm ID: 384801
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Martin Rounthwaite’s practising certificate for 2021/2022 has been granted subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Rounthwaite is not a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Mr Rounthwaite is not a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) or a Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) of an authorised body.
- Mr Rounthwaite shall not provide legal services as a freelance solicitor offering reserved and unreserved services on his own account under regulations 10.2(a) and (b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest and reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in Regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations and the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activities as contained in section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 25 August 2021
Published date: 27 October 2021
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Pro-Law Network
Address(es): 180 Market Street, Hyde, SK14 1EX
Firm ID: 384801
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: Bank View Solicitors Limited
Address(es): Bank View House, 55 Preston New Road, Blackburn, BB2 6AY
Firm ID: 637135
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Martin Rounthwaite’s practising certificate for 2020/2021 has been granted subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Rounthwaite is not a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Mr Rounthwaite is not a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice or a Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration of an authorised body.
- Mr Rounthwaite shall not provide legal services as a freelance solicitor offering reserved and unreserved services on his own account under regulations 10.2(a) and (b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest and reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in Regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations and the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activities as contained in section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007.