The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) yesterday shut down two law firms – including a nine-partner practice in Yorkshire – due to the suspected dishonesty of a solicitor.

The regulator intervened in Abbot Legal Ltd, which operated as Abbott & Co in Manchester and XYZ Law in Dewsbury because there was “reason to suspect dishonesty” on the part of manager Umar Vachhiat.

According to Companies House records, Mr Vachhiat is the sole director of Abbott Legal, Anis Dadu having resigned in 2022. Mr Dadu is the managing partner of XYZ Law.

Though the XYZ website says it is a trading name of Abbott Legal, there is an entry for XYZ Law Ltd at Companies House, which says it is owned by Mr Dadu. Mr Vachhiat has never been a director of XYZ Law Ltd.

Mr Vachhiat is named as the principal solicit

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