Topic: International Law Partnership

[KJW]

This is a cautionary posting primarily to let other Forum Members who may be consideing engaging the ILP of my experience with the Law Firm. I engaged the ILP and Lyubov Jones to act on my behalf at the outset of my purchase of an apartment at the WTP development back in December 2005. I have ended up in the same position as everyone else having paid 3 instalments and then doscovering the apartment i thougt I was purchasing on the 4th floor was now on the 3rd.  When it became clear that things were going from bad to worse, I suggested to ILP (Lyuvov jones and Peter Esders Snr Partner) back in September 2007 that Bulgarian Dreams/Berkeley Square Trading Ltd should be sued for breach as they were based in the UK I was told this was inappropriate and that there was nothing to be gained despite the ILP having paid all instalments from their client account to Berkeley Square Trading Ltd. I was also advised that whilst 'I could defend my interests through a Bulgarian court, the developer - being a Bulgarian himself - knows full well that the court procedure is a time and money consuming procedure. ILP added 'Furthermore, by claiming through the Courts, the Buyer would not have a guiaranteed, positive and immediate result on this matter'. I raised complaints with the ILP on a number of counts and ended up referring to the Solicitors Regulation Authority who referred me to the Legal Complaints Service. The LCS are unable to take forward any complaints that require legal consideration - one has to engage another Solicitor to deal with those aspects - but they were able to take forward a number of Service Complaints against the ILP which I have recently been informed they have upheld on 4 counts. They have invited the ILP to offer compensation which, disregarding the LCS level determined by the 'Suignificant' cateogry they placed my complaints in, resulted in an offer of £100. Considering the hourly rate of the fee earner at the time they were acting for me was £150/£200 the offer was totally unacceptable to me. I am led to believe the LCS will now refer the case to an Adjuication Panel who will make a determination.

My point in posting this is not to achieve anything other than to let people know that the ILP already have personal knowledge and experience of Bulgarian Dreams/Interlink Bg/Berkeley Square Trading Ltd and were quite clear in stating what they felt my options were back in 2007. I note now from another posting that 13 members have paid £500 each in order that the ILP can gather information and determine options available. Whilst I clearly may have been extremely unlucky in the Service and legal protection the firm offered me I believe it would be prudent to exercise some caution.

[paulmonaghan2]

Hi

were the ILP based in the UK? I have a Bulgarian law firm who are proving very difficult to contact - to the point where they are avoiding our calls.

I am trying to contact them to find out where our missing developer has gone (see post ref Razlog golf and ski).

Any advice on dealing with international lawyers would be useful although I`m sure my legal team are just very busy and will return my calls eventually!

Paul

[KJW]

Yes the ILP are based in the UK in London - at the time i engaged their services they were based in Covent Garden but now are located in Holborn. They appear to have counterparts who operate in Bulgaria - or least contacts who conduct searches etc as I was charged for their services by the ILP.

[KJW]

Mike, Thanks for your message. I would be happy to be included in the joint complaint although I believe the Law Society is now the Solicitors Regulation Authority whom I went to initially and it was them who referred my case to the Legal Complaints Service. The problem I encountered was that the LCS will only investigate complaints about poor service whereas my oroginal list of complaints also included elements where I felt there had been clear negligence in the advise and representation provided by ILP. In order to pursue any claim for poor legal advice etc one needs to seek guidance from another Legal professional which, as you have experienced, serves only to rack up more legal fees. I am to be honest somewhat nervous about seeking further legal advice after my experience with the ILP who were said to be a reputable company fully registered with the then Law Society and now regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

The LCS have agreed to refer me to a Negligence Panel at the conclusion of their investigation which I hope will at least give me an indication of whether there are sufficient grounds to take further action before I commit to spending more hard earned cash.

Do let me know if and when you decide to take things further. to think back in 2005 all we wanted was a nice place with a sea view!!!

[JAS]

does anyone know which solicitors are dealing with the bulgarian dreams investors group claim?   Are the group happy with this representation to date?   Looking for a good international lawyer firm after my bulgarian investment has gone belly up due to the fault of the developer   - thank you

[whatdidtheromans]

Following the International Law Partnership ceasing to trade in early July, I wondered if anyone has had any success getting any client funds back from them.  I seem to be hitting a brick wall with this - my e-mails aren't answered and I can't find out who is responsible for the return of client funds, John Howell or the liquidator (who I don't have any details of).

[dario]

I would recommend contacting the Law Society.

www.lawsociety.org.uk/

[whatdidtheromans]

Thanks, I have done this, and am assured the sums will be covered by their compensation scheme in the event of default, and they are going to look into it (The Legal Complaints Service), but the process seems very slow.

[dario]

Law firms in the UK are very well regulated.  You should be ok, but may have to wait a bit.  Make sure you have a record of everything.

[whatdidtheromans]

For anyone else who is owed monies by ILP, I have been advised by the Legal Complaints Service that the Solicitors Regulartory Authority has "now intervened in the firm.  This means they will have arranged for the firm's accounts to be frozen and agents appointed to take over their affairs."  They advise making a claim on the SRA compensation fund at www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/solicitor-owes-money/cliaming-compensation.page 

Hope this helps if anyone else is in same boat - if you are I'd still be interested in how you get on.

[Lanyday]

Following the International Law Partnership ceasing to trade in early July, I wondered if anyone has had any success getting any client funds back from them.  I seem to be hitting a brick wall with this - my e-mails aren't answered and I can't find out who is responsible for the return of client funds, John Howell or the liquidator (who I don't have any details of).

 ...

[whatdidtheromans]

Hi Lanyday,

I think this is a quote from one of my earlier posts you've just reposted.  Did you have any question or query around it?  I have successfully recieved my funds owed by ILP through the compensation scheme, so if anyone else is in the same boat you should go this route.