The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed that two solicitors, Jane MacLeod and Nick Gould, have been formally charged with alleged misconduct in connection with the Horizon IT scandal. This development follows Ms MacLeod's appearance before the Horizon IT public inquiry in 2024, where she faced scrutiny over her handling of internal documents during the investigation and the legal advice she provided to sub-postmistress Seema Misra, whose conviction was later overturned in 2021.
The charges against Ms MacLeod and Mr Gould are linked to conduct that occurred after the main events of the Post Office Horizon scandal. Jonathan Peddie, Executive Director of Investigations, Enforcement and Litigation at the SRA, stated that these referrals concern 'conduct that may have fallen short of expected professional standards.' He added that the SRA's broader investigations into solicitors' roles in the scandal remain active, with collaboration between the inquiry team and the Metropolitan Police.
The Post Office scandal, which unfolded over a decade from 1999 to 2009, led to the wrongful prosecution of over 900 sub-postmasters for theft and fraud. The faulty accounting software developed by Fujitsu was at the centre of this grave injustice. The scandal gained renewed public attention in January last year when it emerged that City law firms had earned millions in legal fees while victims were still awaiting compensation.
Several prominent law firms have represented the Post Office in various capacities related to the scandal and the ongoing Horizon IT Inquiry, which concluded its hearings in December 2024. The final report by Sir Wyn Williams is anticipated this year, shedding further light on the roles played by solicitors during the scandal.
This development marks one of several live investigations into firms and solicitors who advised the Post Office during the scandal. The SRA currently has 20 open probes, including 'serious allegations of solicitors acting with a lack of integrity' across multiple areas. The primary focus is on solicitors' management and supervision of cases, as well as their conduct during litigation and wrongful prosecutions.