Professional negligence solicitor required

[J_S_G]

Could do with some help after a torrid couple of years, if anybody knows a reputable firm of solicitors they can recommend...

Brief background:

• Bought a house a couple of years ago
• Told the solicitors doing the conveyancing I was purchasing to renovate & extend, and that I'd need all relevant searches doing for this
• Amongst other things, they invoiced me for local & drainage surveys. I paid for this.
• Bought the property, got planning permission, began works, spent a lot of money...
• ...Then found out from the water board that there was a public sewer running under my back garden that meant I couldn't extend the property a single inch and never would have been/would be able to
• Asked solicitor for a copy of the drainage survey as they'd never highlighted anything. Turned out they'd never done one - no record with the water board of one being requested, etc. Got the solicitor to carry out another one and send it to me free of charge (thus accepting - in my mind - they were liable for doing it in the first place)
• Found a second firm of solicitors to take this on as a professional negligence case, no-win-no-fee
• Case has been ongoing for around 18 months from the day I first contacted the solicitors. It's just got to the point of issuing proceedings
• The solicitors carrying out the professional negligence claim against the first ones for me have just been shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

...so I need somebody to take on the remainder of the case. And, given the luck I've just had with these last two solicitors I would *really* like it to be a practice that isn't going to make what's already been a hellish couple of years even worse. Really needs to be somebody willing to take it on no-win-no-fee given the money I've lost on the property already; but at least the groundwork is all out of the way.

Can anybody recommend somebody who's competent/not criminal in this day and age??

Thanks in advance, all...

Edited by J_S_G on Monday 29th March 13:05

[DavidHM]

Can't recommend someone specifically but it might be helpful if you could let us know whereabouts you're based geographically and whether you would prefer someone local to you.

My big concern is that this is having to be done on a no win/no fee basis at all. A lot of home contents policies will cover you for legal expenses insurance and a case like this would be exactly what it's about (although the wording may preclude it even if you do have it and you might now be out of time to notify).

Of course your lawyer should have advised you about that beforehand...

[J_S_G]

DavidHM said:

Can't recommend someone specifically but it might be helpful if you could let us know whereabouts you're based geographically and whether you would prefer someone local to you.

My big concern is that this is having to be done on a no win/no fee basis at all. A lot of home contents policies will cover you for legal expenses insurance and a case like this would be exactly what it's about (although the wording may preclude it even if you do have it and you might now be out of time to notify).

Of course your lawyer should have advised you about that beforehand...

Thanks - and sorry - forgot to add that. Based just south of Manchester in Cheshire. Don't mind where anybody taking this case on is based; no great desire to keep popping into a solicitor's office unless necessary.

I did go through my insurance policy at the time, but there didn't look to be any way of having that support this.

[Lurking Lawyer]

J_S_G said:

• The solicitors carrying out the professional negligence claim against the first ones for me have just been shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

Wolstenholmes.....? That would fit, given your location.

I do prof neg work and would be happy to have a chat with you about where you're up to and what needs doing going forwards. I live in south Cheshire but work for a commercial practice in Stoke on Trent - not exactly on your doorstep but not a million miles away either.

Drop me a PM if you'd like a chat

[J_S_G]

Lurking Lawyer said:

J_S_G said:

• The solicitors carrying out the professional negligence claim against the first ones for me have just been shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

Wolstenholmes.....? That would fit, given your location.

Wasn't them - wasn't using a local firm. Probably best I don't say any more re. the previous ones as it was run by a PH member who offered to take the case on, and I've only heard one side of the story.

Lurking Lawyer said:

I do prof neg work and would be happy to have a chat with you about where you're up to and what needs doing going forwards. I live in south Cheshire but work for a commercial practice in Stoke on Trent - not exactly on your doorstep but not a million miles away either.

Drop me a PM if you'd like a chat

Cool - will drop you a line, thanks.

[Lurking Lawyer]

J_S_G said:

Wasn't them - wasn't using a local firm. Probably best I don't say any more re. the previous ones as it was run by a PH member who offered to take the case on, and I've only heard one side of the story.

Ah, I know who you mean - although I didn't know about the SRA.

As you say, perhaps best not to speculate too much