SRA says Jonathon Bostock fabricated bank balances and provided false or misleading information
The former finance chief of the PM Law group has been disqualified from working in SRA-regulated law firms after the Solicitors Regulation Authority found that he caused or allowed withdrawals from client accounts and fabricated bank balances.
Jonathon Howard Bostock, who is not a solicitor, was a non-lawyer manager and head of finance and administration for the licensed bodies in the PM Law group from 1 January 2013 until 2 February 2026. He was also compliance officer for finance and administration for the group’s recognised bodies.
The SRA said Bostock was a chartered accountant and held senior managerial control and financial authority across the group, including oversight of its financial controls. He led the firm’s accounts team and reported to Donald Mackay, solicitor, owner and chairman of the firm.
According to the regulator, the PM Law group contained six recognised bodies and six licensed bodies. On 2 February 2026, the firm notified the SRA of serious concerns around the misuse of client money, which may have rendered it effectively insolvent.
Two days later, the SRA intervened into all but one of the firms that made up the PM Law group. The regulator said the interventions were necessary to protect the interests of clients, former clients and beneficiaries of any trust connected with the bodies.
The SRA found that Bostock caused, or allowed to be caused, withdrawals from PM Law client accounts that led to a client account shortage. It also found that he failed to report to the SRA that PM Law was experiencing serious financial difficulty because of significant and worsening client account shortages.
The SRA also found that Bostock provided the SRA with documents and information which he knew, or ought to have known, were false and misleading.
It also found that he fabricated the bank balances on a number of client and office accounts operated by the firm and used those balances to mislead another individual about the firm’s financial position.
The SRA said Bostock’s conduct breached regulatory obligations that applied to him as a manager and head of finance and administration, including the SRA Principles, Accounts Rules and Code of Conduct for Firms.
It found that it would be undesirable for him to act as a head of legal practice, head of finance and administration, manager or employee of a licensed body regulated by the SRA.
Bostock was made subject to a disqualification order under section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007, preventing him from acting as a head of legal practice, head of finance and administration, manager or employee of an SRA-regulated licensed body without the SRA’s permission.
He was also ordered to pay costs of £1,350. The decision was made on 23 June 2026 and published on 30 June 2026.