A lawyer who may be struck off over his role in the controversial miners’ compensation scheme was the highest paid solicitor in Britain last year, a survey claims.
Andrew Nulty, senior partner of Warrington firm Avalon Solicitors, is under investigation by the Law Society for professional misconduct and faces a disciplinary hearing before the Society’s tribunal.
According to The Lawyer, Mr Nulty’s firm earned £14.4 million, or 68 per cent of its revenue, through a Government-backed scheme allowing miners to claim compensation for respiratory and other diseases. He personally made £13 million.
The Law Society is investigating around 40 law firms in relation to mishandling of miners’ claims. In June Raleys, a Yorkshire firm, was ordered to repay the money it had earned from deducting a percentage of compensation awards.
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Mr Nulty is understood to be under investigation for at least 10 breaches of the code of conduct.
A spokesman for the body said: “Mr Nulty is the subject of numerous allegations of misconduct in relation to his firm’s handling of miners’ compensation claims.”
Anthony Chorlton, Avalon’s only other partner, told Times Online: “Avalon solicitors are proud to be part of The Lawyer UK 100 list .
“With regards to the Law Society, we have instructed our professional advisers to openly assist with any enquiry.”
If the tribunal, for which a date has not yet been set, finds Mr Nulty guilty, it has the power to suspend or bar him permanently from practicing law in England and Wales. He also faces a possible fine of up to £5,000 per breach.
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The Department for Trade and Industry pays law firms around £1,700 for each miners’ case it handles but several law firms, including Avalon, are alleged to have boosted their fees by taking a cut of any compensation awarded to the client. Although not illegal if the client is warned at the outset, the practice is against the Society’s rules.