Concerning complaints, regulatory and disciplinary cases, through a team of professional advisers. We also advise on technical matters, ethics, difficult clients and negligence claims and provide guidance for accountants.
“Complaints are inevitable. The key point is how each Complaint is handled. Three times I have asked ADAS to advise me on a Complaint. Each Complaint has been dealt with patiently and thoroughly; all concluding ‘No Further Action’ with no criticism of me. Most helpfully ADAS’s package includes consultation with a specialist firm of lawyers and an insolvency regulation expert. I recommend ADAS to all in Practice; a knowledgeable & supportive friend when you really need one.”
ADAS is delighted that, through our intervention, we have resolved each of these three complaints to the member’s satisfaction. Furthermore, there was no adverse finding. In all, we have paid out £7950 in professional fees, on behalf of the member, in respect of these matters.
A team of specialists who assist members in the UK facing a complaint, disciplinary proceedings, a regulatory problem, a difficult practice issue or, to a limited extent, a negligence claim and by providing advice generally. In other words, we exist to help you solve your practice problems. Our specialists include chartered accountants, barristers and solicitors and all having experience of dealing with complaints, accountants’ disciplinary hearings and practice problems.
We are now offering a new service to non-subscribing members who have a complaint or regulatory problem. We will give advice and/or conduct correspondence on their behalf, make representations to regulatory committees and arrange representation, by Counsel, before disciplinary, tribunals, review or appeal committees, through our sister-company Astley Legal Limited. They will charge fees at an hourly rate of £250 plus VAT. For further information, contact Chris Cope on 01769 580041 or lifeline@accountantsdefence.co.uk
For more information about our advisers
Why use Accountants’ Defence and Advisory Services?
Accountants’ Defence was incorporated in January 2004 by Chris Cope, solicitor. Chris Cope dealt with complaints/discipline at the ICAEW from 1976-1983. Since 1984, he has specialised in accountancy complaints and disciplinary hearings, representing hundreds of accountants before accountancy tribunals.
As we are not a firm of solicitors, we are not regulated by the SRA. However, Chris Cope is a solicitor holding a practising certificate and is therefore regulated by the SRA.
Practitioners have never been under greater pressure with practice inspection and the internet advising the public how to complain, adding yet more worries.
You may decide that Accountants’ Defence is not for you and then, one day, you have a problem. What do you do? Or, you are visiting this website because you do have a problem and are not a member of Accountants’ Defence. Accountants’ Defence won’t give you retrospective cover. What then? You have two choices. Either, as mentioned above, you could instruct Astley Legal Limited to handle a complaint or regulatory matter, at the hourly rate of £250 plus VAT. Or you could instruct Kingsley Napley LLP, with whom we are associated. The partner at Kingsley Napley who runs the accountancy regulatory department is Julie Matheson whose email address is: jmatheson@kingsleynapley.co.uk
What services do Astley Legal Limited and Kingsley Napley LLP provide? All of the following:-
*Advice on practice problems
*How to handle difficult clients
*Professional standards
*Ethics
*Rules and regulations of your professional body
*Audit registration
*Complaints
*ICAEW and ACCA consent orders
*Disciplinary proceedings
*Appeal proceedings
*Readmission to membership
