Most purchasers of a property pay through their solicitors to the seller’s solicitors the deposit and then the completion monies. However a small (but growing) number of purchasers are finding that having paid the deposit and completion monies, they do not own the property. This is a devastating outcome and potentially financially ruinous.
However, do not despair but do contact Robert Johnson of Healys LLP who will in these circumstances be able to recover your monies.
Robert has built up a considerable amount of experience and expertise in dealing with these types of property frauds. The fraudster could be someone impersonating the true owner of the property; or a rogue conveyancer at the firm instructed by the true vendor; or a party who by way of cyber crime is able to interfere with the transaction and divert the monies to his/her (wrong) account. It does not matter; Robert will be able to assist you.
Claims against intended purchaser’s solicitors and purported vendor’s solicitors
Acted on behalf of the intended purchaser against two firms of solicitors in relation to a fraudulent property transaction in the sum of £1.1 million. We succeeded in obtaining judgment against the First Defendant for breach of trust after a 6 day Trial. The First Defendant appealed, our client cross-appealed and the Court of Appeal considered it together with a co-joined appeal for four days in 2018: The Court of Appeal held that both Defendants were jointly liable for our client’s losses.
Claims against Sterling Avram LLP (“SA”)
Acted on behalf of a firm of solicitors who had acted for the intended purchasers of a house for about £7 million. The purchase monies had been paid to SA (a genuine firm of solicitors) but the fee-earner dealing with the transaction at SA was a fraudster. In his position within SA, the fraudster was able to pretend that he and SA were acting for the true vendor of the house whereas the whole transaction was a fiction. Hence when the monies were received for the purchase of the house, they were not transferred to the true owner of the house but rather accounts in Eastern Europe. After a number of years judgment was obtained against SA by both the intended purchasers (for whom we did not act) and the intended purchasers’ solicitors (for whom we did act) for both the full amount of the losses and the majority of legal costs incurred.
Claims against intended purchaser’s solicitor
Acted for the intended purchaser of a property for about £300,000 but because the purported vendor was a fraudster, the monies were paid to that fraudster and our client did not become the owner of the property. Within 8 months and without having to go anywhere near a courtroom, all of the purchase monies and most of the legal costs had been recovered.
19th January 2023
We understand that starting a new business often takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears (AKA money, time and energy). Would-be entrepreneurs are faced with a host of challenges – not least a raft of legal issues that they need to consider. Failing to do this early doors can be incredibly costly in the long run too. Continue reading »
8th December 2022
Articles of Association are the rules that govern how a company operates and most companies will adopt the Model Articles when they are incorporated. However, there has been some confusion about whether the Model Articles are suitable for companies with a sole director. Continue reading »
11th November 2022
Healys’ Corporate & Commercial has recently expanded and we welcome new solicitor and partner, David Gordon, to the team. David sat down to tell us about himself and what motivates him as he supports his clients. Continue reading »
Healys LLP will be hosting a virtual webinar and networking event to explore what your business needs to know in relation to the recent introduction of The Register of Overseas Entities. Continue reading »
10th November 2022
Earlier this year, Jamie Tavares (corporate solicitor) and David Gordon (corporate solicitor and partner) worked with Andreas Williams (a real estate and property development expert with extensive experience spanning over 25 years) to secure investment into UK property for overseas clients through an SPV (see below). Continue reading »
19th January 2023
We understand that starting a new business often takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears (AKA money, time and energy). Would-be entrepreneurs are faced with a host of challenges – not least a raft of legal issues that they need to consider. Failing to do this early doors can be incredibly costly in the long run too. Continue reading »
8th December 2022
Articles of Association are the rules that govern how a company operates and most companies will adopt the Model Articles when they are incorporated. However, there has been some confusion about whether the Model Articles are suitable for companies with a sole director. Continue reading »
11th November 2022
Healys’ Corporate & Commercial has recently expanded and we welcome new solicitor and partner, David Gordon, to the team. David sat down to tell us about himself and what motivates him as he supports his clients. Continue reading »
Healys LLP will be hosting a virtual webinar and networking event to explore what your business needs to know in relation to the recent introduction of The Register of Overseas Entities. Continue reading »
10th November 2022
Earlier this year, Jamie Tavares (corporate solicitor) and David Gordon (corporate solicitor and partner) worked with Andreas Williams (a real estate and property development expert with extensive experience spanning over 25 years) to secure investment into UK property for overseas clients through an SPV (see below). Continue reading »