Gould: Fees dispute
The first two solicitors to face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for misconduct linked to the Post Office scandal have been named – but both concern behaviour after the main events took place.
Jane MacLeod, the former Post Office general counsel, has been cited for her failure to give evidence to Sir Wyn Williams’ public inquiry, while Nick Gould is facing allegations over how he charged sub-postmasters for his help.
The SRA has been able to take action because the nature of the cases means they are unlikely to prejudice criminal investigations or the inquiry.
Ms MacLeod was meant to give oral evidence in June 2024, having already told the inquiry that, due to the passage of time, she considered her written statement was the best evidence that she could offer.
Despite the inquiry offering to meet the costs of her travelling from Australia, she declined to give oral evidence either in person or remotely.
In a statement following her refusal, Sir Wyn said there were “no adequate means of compelling Ms MacLeod to attend pursuant to the Inquiries Act 2005”.
He added, however, that he would compare what Ms MacLeod said in her statement with the extensive “contemporaneous documentation” he had.
“Whilst it would have been greatly preferable to hear from Ms MacLeod, I do not consider that her absence prevents me from establishing the facts of her involvement in the matters relevant to the terms of reference.”
The SRA referral to the SDT cites her failure “to co-operate fully with the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry in relation to a request for her to give oral evidence”.
Mr Gould acted pro bono for sub-postmasters Seema Misra – who had been jailed while pregnant – Tracy Felstead and Janet Skinner in overturning their convictions. Barristers Paul Marshall and Flora Page were their counsel.
According to Nick Wallis, the journalist who has led the coverage of the scandal, Mr Gould then entered retainers with them for work done after their convictions were quashed.
The SRA notice says that, between 13 May 2021 and April 2025, the solicitor failed to provide adequate information in respect of the likely overall costs, the costs that were incurred and the legal work that he and/or the firm was instructed to undertake for two of the women.
Further, in January 2024, “Mr Gould raised or caused to be raised invoices or other notification of costs for Client A and/or Client B without providing any or any adequate justification of the amount stated as to be paid”, and then sent correspondence between 16 and 22 April 2024 to and/or regarding Client A, “the content of which was inappropriate and/or offensive”.
The final allegation is that, between April 2024 and April 2025, Mr Gould breached his duty of confidentiality to Client A.
Mr Gould was a corporate partner at Aria Grace Law until 7 February 2025 and thereafter has worked as a legal consultant at unregulated firm Impact Lawyers.
Jonathan Peddie, the SRA’s executive director of investigations, enforcement and litigation, said: “Our wider investigations are still ongoing. This includes issues relating directly to the Horizon scandal, where we are working closely with the inquiry team and the Metropolitan Police. We can and will act if we find that solicitors we regulate fail to meet our standards.”
The SRA said in March that it has more than 20 live investigations into solicitors and law firms linked to the Post Office, while the Bar Standards Board has 10.
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