Legal firm boss in fees row ban

A FORMER legal services firm boss from Bolton has been given a six-year ban for misdemeanours with the Cumbrian outfit.

His disqualification followed an Insolvency Service probe which saw his venture pocket at least £218,000 it was not entitled to.

Anthony Doyle, 59, of Chorley New Road, Lostock, was one of the partners in Neat Legal Services, based at the Pacific House Business Centre in Carlisle.

The firm had entered into an agreement with a factoring company, which could entitle the latter to a percentage of outstanding invoices from Neat's dealings.

But an Insolvency Service official says: "Mr Doyle caused or allowed Neat Legal Services Limited to breach the terms of the factoring agreement it had entered into, resulting in Neat receiving the benefit of funds in the amount of at least £218,720 to which it was not entitled."

Mr Doyle's company director disqualification runs from August 13, it has been confirmed.

The official added: "Neat received monies directly from debtors in relation to 53 invoices with the total value of £305,447.

"The amount of at least £218,720 was received directly from at least 24 debtors which should have been paid to the factoring company and Neat retained those funds rather than remitting them to the factoring company.

"Eighteen of the debtors paid at least a further £142,915 in settlements and legal fees to the factoring company relating to the payments which were retained by Neat and not received by the factoring company."

Companies House records show Neat, which operated mainly as a legal costings service, went under in September 2018.

Administrators named Fair Finance as the factoring company they were engaged with at the time.

Mr Doyle is said to have made unsuccessful attempts to attract new investors to the enterprise before its collapse.

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