Professional Negligence Claims Against Solicitors: Hidden Defects and Business Losses

Hidden Defects & Business Losses: Corporate Sale Disputes

At Healys LLP, our Professional Negligence team, led by Robert Johnson, frequently advises clients on claims against solicitors arising from negligent legal services. The below cases illustrate how (1) solicitor failures can lead to significant financial and emotional consequences and (2) we can assist clients in seeking redress.

This article addresses solicitor failures in business sales due to ambiguous contractual drafting.

Sale of a Company

In this case, the client instructed a solicitor firm to act for him in the sale of his business. The contractual agreement drafted by his solicitors was ambiguous on the matter of the net assets of the company. Namely, the purchaser believed that the company’s net assets were included in the agreed purchase price, whereas the client believed that the net assets were to be paid for in addition to the agreed purchase price. The client’s solicitors failed (among other failings) to ensure that this was clarified in the process of drafting and agreeing the contract for sale.  We pursued the solicitors for the client’s losses.

In this case, a claim arose out of the way in which a firm of solicitors dealt with the sale of a corporate client’s property. During the conveyancing process the solicitors displayed poor conduct and ultimately transferred the client's monies to a third party without any authorisation to do so. We, therefore, pursued a claim for recovery of our client’s losses.

If you would like legal advice on these (or any) areas of Professional Negligence or further information on any of the above, please contact Robert on 07899973306 or robert.johnson@healys.com

Healys’ Professional Negligence Services

Healys’ professional negligence team have acted for clients against a range of professionals including solicitors, barristers, architects, surveyors, financial advisors and accountants, and have an outstanding reputation for gaining the best possible outcome. They are accredited and recommended by leading legal review bodies, including Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

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