Criminal investigation launched into collapsed law firm

A criminal investigation has been launched over the collapse of law firm Ross Harper. The firm was shut down in 2012 after 50 years and four of its partners were struck off following investigations by the Law Society of Scotland and findings of the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal. The Daily Record reports that senior partner Alan Miller, 38, is the focus of a criminal investigation. An expert witness hired by the firm and one of its creditors, forensic psychologist Ian Stephen, who is owed £5,000, said: “I think it’s appropriate that police investigate. “If anyone commits a crime, be it fraud or anything else, then you would expect police would make inquiries into it. “If this happened in any other profession, the appropriate ­professional body would make inquiries and, if there was a criminal element to it, you would expect police to become involved. “I don’t not see how the ­situation should be any different for solicitors.” Bacteriologist, Professor Hugh Pennington, is owed £4,000. He said: “I was shocked to ­discover Ross Harper were ­withholding payments from me and others. There has been a betrayal of trust.” The SSDT found that legal aid cash was used to help the firm balance its books following the recession in 2008. The firm had 12 offices in Scotland and had legal aid earnings of £1.7 million in 2006-7, the highest of any firm at the time. A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Inquiries are at an early stage.” A Law Society of Scotland spokesman said: “Concerns were raised about the firm’s ­accounting record following one of our ­routine ­compliance inspections. “This led to us going to the Court of Session to request the appointment of a judicial factor to the firm in April 2012 and, ­following investigation, we prosecuted all six former partners before the independent SSDT. “We have a legal duty to report suspicious activity to the ­relevant authorities but cannot comment on whether reports have been made on specific cases.”