SRA refers Nicholas Jackson to tribunal over alleged false ID certification in property transaction
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has referred solicitor Nicholas Andrew Jackson to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) over allegations relating to the certification of identification documents during a property transaction. The prosecution decision was made on 28 October 2024, with the outcome published nearly a year later, on 18 September 2025. The referral means the case will now be determined by the independent tribunal, which will assess the evidence before deciding whether professional misconduct has occurred.
Jackson, who was admitted as a solicitor and is currently linked to Blackstone Solicitors of Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire, is alleged to have failed to meet required professional standards when acting for a corporate client. At the time of the events giving rise to the case, he was practising at Cullimore Dutton Solicitors Limited of Chester. The SRA confirmed that the firm is identified as the practice connected to the matters under investigation, though it is not itself subject to the proceedings.
The allegations relate to conduct on or around 6 July 2022, when Jackson was acting for a company client referred to as Company A in a property transaction. According to the SRA, he certified that copies of identification documents belonging to Person A, a director of Company A, were true and complete copies of the original documents. It is alleged, however, that Jackson had not seen the original documents at the relevant time and may not have seen them at all. The certified copies were then provided to another party in the transaction when requested, despite questions over whether they had been checked against the originals.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe SDT has considered the evidence provided and determined that there is a case to answer in respect of these allegations. The certification of identity documents forms a fundamental part of legal due diligence in property and commercial transactions, and solicitors are required to take care that such documents are verified accurately. The SRA contends that any failure to do so risks undermining confidence in the integrity of transactions and in the profession as a whole.
At this stage, the allegations remain unproven. The role of the tribunal is to hear the matter in full, taking account of evidence presented by both the regulator and Jackson himself. The process ensures that the solicitor is given the opportunity to respond in detail to the allegations and that the case is decided independently. The SRA has stressed that the decision to prosecute is not itself a finding of misconduct but the start of formal disciplinary proceedings.
If the SDT ultimately upholds the allegations, it has the power to impose a range of sanctions. These can include financial penalties, conditions on practice, suspension, or, in the most serious cases, striking a solicitor from the roll. The precise outcome will depend on the tribunal’s findings following the hearing.
Jackson is currently recorded by the SRA as working with Blackstone Solicitors, based at Campaign House, Cecil Road, Hale. At the time of the alleged misconduct he was employed by Cullimore Dutton Solicitors Limited, located at Newgate Street, Chester. The case highlights the continuing scrutiny placed on the conduct of solicitors in relation to compliance checks and the accuracy of certified documents in property transactions.
The tribunal will set a date for a full hearing in due course. Until that hearing takes place and a judgment is issued, Jackson remains entitled to practise and the allegations must be treated as unproven