Portsmouth solicitor faces tribunal after SRA says he ignored investigations for years
Grenville Royston Young, a recognised sole practitioner based in Portsmouth, has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) following allegations that he failed to co-operate with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) over several years.
The regulator announced on 30 January 2025 that it had decided to prosecute Young before the SDT after certifying there was a case to answer. The decision follows a lengthy investigation into his conduct both as a sole practitioner at Grenville Young Solicitor and during his work as a freelance solicitor.
The SRA said the allegations include failures to engage with its inquiries and to assist its agents during and after the intervention into his practice. Specifically, it is alleged that Young did not co-operate with the SRA’s investigations between November 2019 and April 2023, despite multiple requests for information.
The tribunal will independently assess all the evidence before determining whether the allegations are proven. The SRA emphasised that the claims remain unproven pending the hearing.
Young’s firm, Grenville Young Solicitor, was based at 51 Woodfield Avenue, Portsmouth (PO6 1AN). The regulator intervened into the practice on 19 April 2023, citing the need to protect clients’ interests.
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According to the SRA’s published decision, the panel concluded that intervention was necessary under paragraph 1(1)(m) of Schedule 1 to the Solicitors Act 1974, which allows the regulator to act when it considers such a step essential to safeguard the interests of clients or beneficiaries of trusts for which a solicitor is or was a trustee.
The intervention also extended to Young’s freelance practice, which was registered under SRA number 670056.
An SRA spokesperson confirmed that the regulator decided to take control of the firm’s files, client monies, and accounting records as part of the intervention process. The agency’s appointed agents are now responsible for handling ongoing matters and returning client documents.
The decision to prosecute Young follows repeated concerns about his lack of co-operation during the regulatory process. The SRA said that he failed to provide timely responses to official correspondence and did not assist with its efforts to clarify the management of his practice after intervention.
Such cases are generally treated as serious by the tribunal, as the SRA’s rules require solicitors to deal openly and promptly with the regulator. A failure to co-operate is regarded as conduct likely to undermine public trust in the profession.
If the allegations are proven, possible sanctions could include a fine, suspension, or strike-off from the roll of solicitors. However, until the hearing takes place, no findings of misconduct have been made.
The SRA stated: “This notification relates to a decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent tribunal which will reach its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the solicitor.”
The date of the SDT hearing has not yet been announced.
Young’s practice was closed at the time of the intervention, and the SRA continues to hold all controlled client files and financial records. Clients affected by the closure were advised to contact the regulator or its appointed agents for assistance in retrieving their documents.
The case adds to a number of recent disciplinary prosecutions focusing on solicitors’ duties of co-operation with their regulator, particularly in cases where firms have been subject to intervention. The SRA has reiterated that it expects full engagement from solicitors and compliance with its statutory powers during investigations.
Young’s referral to the SDT marks the latest stage in proceedings that have spanned more than five years, beginning with initial enquiries in 2019. The outcome of the tribunal will determine whether any disciplinary sanctions will be imposed.