The founder of the collapsed cavity wall claims firm SSB Law has had conditions placed on his practising certificate as a measure to protect the public.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority announced that, for the next year, Jeremy Brooke will not be allowed to manage or own any authorised body and may not act as a compliance officer. He is also prevented from carrying out any legal activities linked with litigation or any work involving conditional fee agreements or damage based agreements.
The restrictions, imposed last month, were deemed ‘necessary in the public interest or for the protection of the public’.
Brooke remains a director of SSB Group, which entered administration in January this year after financial problems. Administrators from FRP Advisory said this week that they had successfully applied to extend the period of administration until January 2026.
Brooke, a former police officer, initially specialised in criminal litigation after becoming a solicitor and then move into RTA litigation. He established SSB in 2007 in Sheffield and it went on to become one of the city’s largest employers.
But the business failed as it moved into areas such as cavity wall claims and housing disrepair. When it folded, around 220 people lost their jobs and a number of legal businesses were owed thousands of pounds. In total, more than £200m is estimated to be owed.
Former clients of the firm have reported being subject to demands for payment from lawyers defending cavity wall claims, despite assurances that cases were being run on a no win, no fee basis.
The Gazette has been told by some of those owed money that they reported issues with SSB to the SRA months before its closure. After the group was placed into administration, the SRA opened an investigation into its activities and pledged to take action where any solicitor had fallen short of professional and ethical standards. That probe is likely to run into next year.
The regulator’s handling of the matter is also subject to an investigation by the Legal Services Board.
