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Original poster

Personal injury claim solicitors has closed ....what do we do?

28 replies

Biscuitqueen9636 · 06/02/2026 23:40

We are 5 years into a personal injury claim that could result in a six figure pay out. Had to attend many appointments, doctors etc, it is now under the court and there is a barrister involved etc.
We have found out today after not hearing from them for a while that they have closed with immediate effect. Our documents were supposed to have been filed in court this week . We have not been contacted by anyone as of yet. What are we supposed to do now? And who pays the people for the services already provided to us? Private doctors, treatments , the barrister , the court fees? We are panicking and also enterprise worried as we were approaching the end of the claim

OP posts:
OhDear111 · 06/02/2026 23:55

@Biscuitqueen9636 Surely you have met the barrister? Speak to them. It’s likely the bundle will be compiled by another firm. It’s really poor though. The barrister should have some idea as they are engaged by the solicitors and would be expecting to work closely with them.

OhDear111 · 07/02/2026 00:00

Have you looked at the Solicitors Regulation Authority? They have two firms which have closed. I looked at one in Sheffield but there’s another one. Talk to the SRA maybe?

Lobbygobbler · 07/02/2026 00:32

Please ignore @OhDear111 advice to contact the barrister directly. That isn’t what happens in these situations.
much depends on the circumstances of the closure but I suspect it’s a situation which has been brought about by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority. They will appoint another firm of solicitors to take over the closed firms files. It will take a little while for this to happen but you should hear something soon. Cases being handled by the previous firm will be stayed, in other words suspended so you won’t be penalised for late compliance. I know it’s worrying but it should affect the outcome of your case except to delay things for a while.

Original poster
Biscuitqueen9636 · 07/02/2026 08:56

Yes its with the SRA. We havent been contacted by anyone , didn't even know about it. Just so happened to see a news article.
We have spoken to the barrister once over zoom call arranged by thr solicitors. Our main question is to find out if its been submitted to court so want to ask him that.
On the sra it says we need to find new solicitors ourselves and get the file from them but will take time. Its unbelievable, we are 5 years in and so close to the end

OP posts:
ArtificialStupidity · 07/02/2026 08:58

If you find new solicitors they will be able to obtain the file as SRA have said. I am so sorry it's happened to you though what a nightmare. It must have been a fairly awful incident to result in that level of payout so I'm sure you don't need this stress on top of everything else but I think SRA have good processes in place for this situation

Idontthinkicandothisanymore · 07/02/2026 09:04

Was it PM Law. We have a lot of dealings with them and heard in work this week they’d shut unexpectedly. They have a few firms under them.
I deal with injury claims and normally another firm will take up all of their work. You won’t be prejudiced so don’t worry.

racierach · 07/02/2026 09:41

This is PM law. Instruct another firm and they will get hold of your file. Try not to panic.

I can recommend a firm if you wish ?

OhDear111 · 07/02/2026 22:08

@Biscuitqueen9636 I doubt the barrister would be so unhelpful as to not speak to you! However it looks like a delay is inevitable. Again.

Lobbygobbler · 08/02/2026 08:12

OhDear111 · 07/02/2026 22:08

@Biscuitqueen9636 I doubt the barrister would be so unhelpful as to not speak to you! However it looks like a delay is inevitable. Again.

Edited

i’m not sure why this poster keeps giving you this bad advice.
A barrister is extremely unlikely to speak to a client directly in these circumstances. The fact is they would have no more idea what was going on than the client, plus there are professional standards reasons why this kind of conversation wouldn’t happen. Realistically answers will only come once the file is transferred to another solicitor which will hopefully be sooner rather than later. In the meantime as someone has already said you will not be prejudiced by this situation.

OhDear111 · 08/02/2026 09:29

As there has been a con, and presumably a contract, the Bar Standards Board is not black and white in this.

AzureRose · 08/02/2026 09:32

OhDear111 · 06/02/2026 23:55

@Biscuitqueen9636 Surely you have met the barrister? Speak to them. It’s likely the bundle will be compiled by another firm. It’s really poor though. The barrister should have some idea as they are engaged by the solicitors and would be expecting to work closely with them.

Dont do this. The barrister will know nothing. Why on earth would they know where the file is or what to do.

Call the law society or SRA. There will be a firm that takes over the files in the interim and you will need to find a new firm of solicitors. I suggest you start looking now.

I've taken over files from firms that have been closed and we agree an undertaking to recover the previous costs of the firm that went bust or intervened in by the SRA.

I very much doubt the court or defendant will be draconian with missed court directions under these circumstances. The new solicitor will be able to sort it out.

Spinnertakesitall · 08/02/2026 10:04

OhDear111 · 07/02/2026 22:08

@Biscuitqueen9636 I doubt the barrister would be so unhelpful as to not speak to you! However it looks like a delay is inevitable. Again.

Edited

Clients don't speak to barrister's directly without the instructing solicitor and the Barrister wouldn't even be able to give helpful advice in this situation. OP has had plenty of helpful and correct advice from others on this thread.

racierach · 08/02/2026 10:15

The barrister is presumably not under a retainer and will not speak to clients directly like that. Even if they did they wouldn’t be able to help. Even the employees at PM law didn’t know what was going on so the barrister won’t know.

contact the SRA and find another solicitors firm to take over the file.

Needanadultgapyear · 08/02/2026 10:43

A different type of law, but similar situation law firm closed between exchange and completion. The STA agents were brilliant four for transferred to a new firm who honoured the price and got the purchase done on time. It felt awful at the time, but the SRA system does work.

OhDear111 · 08/02/2026 22:20

@racierach See attached. Retainers are possible and a contract sets out what each party should expect,

Im not suggesting the barrister finds another solicitor.

OP - you normally pay for your barrister via the solicitors. One issue is staying with the same barrister. As You have had a discussion, I assume you want that? Good luck anyway,

Personal injury claim solicitors has closed ....what do we do?
Lobbygobbler · 08/02/2026 22:45

Your thinking is very muddled @OhDear111 and so is your advice.

AzureRose · 09/02/2026 00:17

OhDear111 · 08/02/2026 22:20

@racierach See attached. Retainers are possible and a contract sets out what each party should expect,

Im not suggesting the barrister finds another solicitor.

OP - you normally pay for your barrister via the solicitors. One issue is staying with the same barrister. As You have had a discussion, I assume you want that? Good luck anyway,

Are you even a lawyer? It's clear from this that you cant be or you wouldn't have said anything so daft.

OP - you normally pay for your barrister via the solicitors. One issue is staying with the same barrister. As You have had a discussion, I assume you want that?

It is a PI claim. No one pays privately. It's pointless. All PI claims goes on conditional fee agreements. The solicitor then enters into the a separate conditional fee agreement with the barrister. The contract to pay counsels fees is between the solicitor and the barrister, not the client and the barrister.

Your post contains zero relevant or useful advice.

The OP looks for another solicitor ASAP, the barrister stuff is a red herring and of no importance.

Emotionalsupporttissue · 09/02/2026 00:21

I had a personal injury claim, I didn't even know my barristers name , let alone met
them .

Lobbygobbler · 09/02/2026 08:53

AzureRose · 09/02/2026 00:17

Are you even a lawyer? It's clear from this that you cant be or you wouldn't have said anything so daft.

OP - you normally pay for your barrister via the solicitors. One issue is staying with the same barrister. As You have had a discussion, I assume you want that?

It is a PI claim. No one pays privately. It's pointless. All PI claims goes on conditional fee agreements. The solicitor then enters into the a separate conditional fee agreement with the barrister. The contract to pay counsels fees is between the solicitor and the barrister, not the client and the barrister.

Your post contains zero relevant or useful advice.

The OP looks for another solicitor ASAP, the barrister stuff is a red herring and of no importance.

Edited
Show quote history

Her dd is a barrister.

AzureRose · 09/02/2026 08:56

Lobbygobbler · 09/02/2026 08:53

Her dd is a barrister.

Show quote history

She isnt a barrister herself and her dd is clearly a very bad one or has never done PI work.

Her dds advice is dreadful and I cant believe any barrister said what her dd allegedly did.

user746016 · 09/02/2026 08:58

Lobbygobbler · 08/02/2026 22:45

Your thinking is very muddled @OhDear111 and so is your advice.

She isn’t a lawyer. She used to be called Tizerorfizz and her daughter is a junior barrister so she seems to know everything about both barristers and solicitors by osmosis

AzureRose · 09/02/2026 09:02

user746016 · 09/02/2026 08:58

She isn’t a lawyer. She used to be called Tizerorfizz and her daughter is a junior barrister so she seems to know everything about both barristers and solicitors by osmosis

Show quote history

She knows sod all and her post is so far from being relevant or helpful, it's incredible.

Lobbygobbler · 09/02/2026 09:19

Be careful what you say about her. She says the most outrageous things then reports people who challenge her. She makes the Higher Education board a miserable place.

user746016 · 09/02/2026 09:52

Lobbygobbler · 09/02/2026 09:19

Be careful what you say about her. She says the most outrageous things then reports people who challenge her. She makes the Higher Education board a miserable place.

With limited knowledge on that board too since she didn't go to university.