Lake Jackson Ltd closed after SRA cites dishonesty suspicions and rule breaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has intervened into Norwich-based law firm Lake Jackson Ltd, closing it down with immediate effect following concerns about dishonesty and regulatory breaches. The decision, published on 26 September 2025, marks the end of the firm’s operations and places its files and client money under the control of appointed agents.
According to the SRA, the intervention was triggered by suspicions of dishonesty linked to Mark Jackson, a manager of the firm, in connection with its business. The regulator also concluded that both Jackson and the firm had failed to comply with the SRA Principles and the SRA Accounts Rules, under both the 2011 and 2019 frameworks. These breaches, the SRA stated, fell under provisions of the Administration of Justice Act 1985, giving the regulator authority to step in and shut down the practice.
Lake Jackson Ltd, recognised under SRA number 324089, operated from Virginia Cottage on Buckenham Lane in Norwich. The firm has now ceased all legal work, and no further client services will be provided under its name. As is standard in such cases, the intervention does not amount to a finding of misconduct but ensures the protection of clients’ interests while investigations continue.
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The regulator confirmed that Richard Thorpe of Shakespeare Martineau has been appointed as the intervening agent. Thorpe, working under SHMA SRA Interventions, is now responsible for safeguarding all files, papers and client monies held by the firm. Clients will be contacted directly with details on how to retrieve their documents or transfer matters to new solicitors. Any funds held in the firm’s accounts will also be managed under the agent’s supervision.
An intervention is regarded as one of the SRA’s most serious regulatory measures and is typically reserved for cases where there is evidence or suspicion of serious risk to the public. In the case of Lake Jackson Ltd, the suspicion of dishonesty on the part of a firm manager, combined with breaches of accounts rules, led to the regulator taking immediate action. The SRA’s decision noted that compliance with accounting requirements and principles of honesty and integrity is fundamental to maintaining public trust in legal services.
Mark Jackson, identified in the SRA notice as a manager of the firm, is at the centre of the concerns raised. The regulator has not published further details of the alleged dishonesty or the nature of the breaches but confirmed that its powers under the Administration of Justice Act were engaged. Under paragraph 32 of Schedule 2 of the Act, the SRA can close a practice where dishonesty is suspected or where failures to comply with rules put clients at risk.
The intervention means that Lake Jackson Ltd no longer has authority to practise. Its closure serves as a reminder of the regulatory framework governing solicitors and law firms in England and Wales, which demands strict compliance with rules designed to protect clients and preserve the integrity of the profession.
Clients of the firm are advised that they should await direct contact from the intervening agent for guidance on how to recover their files or address ongoing matters. The intervention also freezes the firm’s ability to access or use any client funds, ensuring that these monies are safeguarded while the investigation proceeds.
With the intervention now in effect, Lake Jackson Ltd joins the list of firms closed by the SRA where serious regulatory concerns have been identified. The regulator has reiterated that its primary focus in such cases remains the protection of clients, the safeguarding of funds, and the maintenance of confidence in the legal profession.