Gladstones Solicitors Prosecution by SRA - Parking Scam running Independent Appeal Service?

In a nutshell, one of the lawyers who represent many of the Private Parking Companies is in a bit of bother with the Solicitors Regulatory Authority with an impending prosecution.This particular company (Gladstones Solicitors) are a real thorn on the side for many people contesting outrageous parking fines and and try taking people to court. People affected by Gladstones are taking great delight in highlighting the troubles that Gladstones are now.


What follows is the gist of the incestuous links within the alleged parking scam being operated and making many solicitors and parking companies lots of money (many ex-clampers here) - not sure about the human interest angle - but as regards the prosecution of Gladstones Solicitors by the SDT (full details on the link given) there's £35k given to charity because they couldn't identify the people who had paid them - very unlikely story>

The Solicitors Regulation Authority published its’ decision made on 05/06/2021 to Prosecute Gladstones Solicitors Limited through its’ Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Full details can be found at the following link:
Therefore for clarity, until 10th March 2020, Gladstones Solicitors were actively prosecuting Parking Charge Notices while at the same time, their owners also had a direct and 100% ownership interest in The Independent Appeals Service, who state ‘It was created to provide a truly independent review on the lawfulness of parking charges that are imposed by private companies.

Here's the full companies house stuff:

GLADSTONES SOLCITORS and UNITI (T/A the IAS) – Who owns what?

The information that follows, contains only a chronological history & facts from information filed at Companies House and disclosed on the Solicitors Regulation Authority website – no opinions are allegations are being made.

UNITI is a trading name of United Trade and Industry Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (08248531). Registered Address: 41 Greek Street, Stockport, Cheshire, England, SK3 8AX. This is not a correspondence address.

The following are also trading names; The Independent Appeals Service, The IAS, International Parking Community, Independent Parking Committee, The IPC.

18/02/2011         Gladstones Solicitors Limited incorporated. John Llewellyn Gladstone Davies (JLGD) as sole shareholder.

24/06/2011         William Kenneth Hurley (WKH) appointed as Director of Gladstones Solicitors Limited.

11/10/2012         Independent Parking Committee Ltd incorporated – WKH & JLGD each owning 1 share – 50% shareholders. Both WKH & JLGD are Directors.

18/02/2013         WKH confirmed as being a 49% shareholder in Gladstones Solicitors Limited. (JLGD holding 51%).

30/03/2016         Independent Parking Committee Ltd changes names to United Trade and Industry Limited

Year to 31/10/2016          United Trade and Industry Limited pays dividends of £28,000 to WKH & £28,000 to JLGD

18/05/2017         Will Hurley Ltd incorporated – WKH sole shareholder – 1 share

28/05/2017         WKH terminated as a Director of Gladstones Solicitors Limited.

28/05/2017         JLGD is terminated as a Director of United Trade and Industry Limited.

Year to 31/10/2017          United Trade and Industry Limited pays dividends of £24,000 to WKH & £29,500 to JLGD

30/01/2018         Will Hurley Limited acquires all shares in United Trade and Industry from WKH & JLGD – according to Will Hurley Limited – for £1,705,000. The funding for this acquisition is not directly disclosed although the first year accounts of Will Hurley Limited indicate loan and creditor financing – in all likelihood from WKH & JLGD – although not proven.

30/01/2018         Will Hurley Ltd issues 740,000 bonus shares of £1 each to WKH.

Year to 31/10/2018          United Trade and Industry Limited pays dividends of £200,000 (split not disclosed).

Year to 31/10/2019          United Trade and Industry Limited pays dividends of £172,500 to Will Hurley Limited.

29/02/2020         Gladstones Solicitors Limited has retained earnings of £1,968,945 (unaudited).

10/03/2020         JLGD & WKH transfer their shares in Gladstones Solicitors Limited to Gladstones Holdings Limited – amount not disclosed.

30/06/2020         Gladstones Holdings Limited filed accounts as dormant – no disclosure of investment in subsidiary (Gladstones Solicitors Limited) or even a bank account.

Year to 31/10/2020  United Trade and Industry Limited pays dividends of £250,000 to Will Hurley Limited

05/11/2021        The Solicitors Regulation Authority published its’ decision made on 05/06/2021 to Prosecute Gladstones Solicitors Limited through its’ Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Full details can be found at the following link:

https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/solicitor-check/559050/

No outcome to this Prosecution has yet been published by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Comments & Observations:

From incorporation (11/10/2012) until todays’ date, Will Hurley has had an ownership interest in the IAS – today, through his ownership of Will Hurley Limited, he owns 100% of the IAS/IPC and other related trade names.

From 18/02/2013 until 10/03/2020 Will Hurley has held a 49% ownership interest in Gladstones Solicitors Limited.

From incorporation in 18/02/2011 until todays’ date John Davies has had an ownership interest in Gladstones Solicitors Limited – today he owns 100% through his 100% shareholding in Gladstones Holdings Limited.

From 11/02/2012 until 30/01/2018 John Davies owned 50% of the IAS/IPC and other related trade names.

Therefore for clarity, until 10th March 2020, Gladstones Solicitors were actively prosecuting Parking Charge Notices while at the same time, their owners also had a direct and 100% ownership interest in The Independent Appeals Service, who state ‘It was created to provide a truly independent review on the lawfulness of parking charges that are imposed by private companies.

The share disposal events that took place on 30/01/2018 (United Trade & Industry - £1,705,000) and on 10/03/2020 (Gladstones Solicitors Limited – undisclosed) in normal circumstances would constitute a taxable event for Capital Gains Tax purposes.

Gladstones Holdings Accounts filed at Companies for the year ended 30/06/2020 fail to disclose its’ investment in Gladstones Solicitors Limited – clearly wrong as Gladstones Solicitors Limited had Net Assets of £1,978,945 only 10 days before the date of the acquisition.


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