Abbott legal and XYZ Law closed by regulator over solicitor misconduct concerns

SRA intervenes in two firms, citing suspected dishonesty by solicitor Umar Vachhiat.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has taken the extraordinary step of shutting down two law firms – including a nine-partner practice in Yorkshire – over the suspected dishonesty of a solicitor.

On Monday, the regulator intervened in Abbott Legal Ltd, which traded as Abbott & Co in Manchester and XYZ Law in Dewsbury. The SRA confirmed that the action followed “reason to suspect dishonesty” on the part of firm manager Umar Vachhiat.

According to Companies House records, Vachhiat is the sole director of Abbott Legal, after co-director Anis Dadu resigned in 2022. Dadu remains managing partner of XYZ Law, although the legal and corporate structures of the two businesses appear blurred. While XYZ’s website describes the firm as a trading name of Abbott Legal, a separate entry at Companies House lists XYZ Law Ltd under Dadu’s ownership.

On the Abbott & Co website, Vachhiat is presented as principal solicitor, while Dadu also appears alongside two other staff members. By contrast, the XYZ site makes no mention of Vachhiat.

Founded in 2020, XYZ Law operates from Dewsbury with branch offices in Manchester – at the same address as Abbott & Co – and in London. With nine partners, 14 solicitors, and a mix of employed staff and freelance consultants, the firm handled conveyancing, commercial property, wills and probate, immigration, family and civil litigation. Industry sources described it as highly unusual for the SRA to intervene in a firm of this size.

The intervention came as a shock to staff and partners alike. Writing on LinkedIn, XYZ partner Samantha Burrows described the development as “devastating news.” She said: “Like my colleagues, I only learned of this today and it has come as a huge shock to us all. Right now my priority has been to support the team as we begin to process this news together. It will take time for me to fully understand what has happened and to come to terms with the impact, both professionally and personally.”

The suddenness of the regulator’s action was underlined by another LinkedIn post from a staff member who joined XYZ just last week. They praised the firm’s atmosphere as “positive” and said colleagues were clearly proud to work there – sentiments shared only days before the SRA closed the firm down.

This is not the first time a senior figure linked to the firm has faced scrutiny. In 2023, Dadu was reprimanded by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal after admitting he failed to notify his insurer about taking on another firm’s cases. While allegations that he had acted dishonestly in a later proposal form were not proven, the ruling nevertheless cast a shadow over his regulatory record.

XYZ had made ambitious moves to expand its profile in recent months. Earlier this year it joined the QualitySolicitors network, which provides marketing and operational support to firms across the country. It also launched the XYZ Foundation, aimed at funding and mentoring local community initiatives.

In January, the firm introduced an AI-powered chatbot to give clients “preliminary legal insights and guidance.” Promoted as a 24/7 service to improve efficiency and accessibility, the chatbot was part of the firm’s strategy to position itself at the forefront of legal technology.

Now, with the SRA’s intervention, both Abbott Legal and XYZ Law have been forcibly shut down. The regulator has appointed intervention agents to protect clients’ interests, take control of files, and safeguard any client money held by the firms.

For the solicitors, staff, and clients caught up in the intervention, the coming weeks will determine how their cases and careers are handled. For the wider profession, the closure of such a large practice serves as a stark reminder of the regulator’s powers when dishonesty is suspected.