By Lucy Caulkett-
A barrister’s chambers is among a group of unsecured creditors owed millions of pounds.
Shiner’s former firm Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) still owes £700,000 by the Legal Aid Agency for work carried out before its liquidation in 2018.Mr Phil Shiner, a solicitor described as the “scourge of the army” was eventually struck off the roll after a solicitors Tribunal ruled that he acted dishonestly in accepting illegal payments for cases brought against the Ministry Of Justice on behalf of Iraqi Civilians.
Liquidator PCR (London) LLP was appointed in October 2018 following a winding-up order against the law firm in 2017 .Although £160,000 was found in one company account, other funds are potentially recoverable from government departments and other third parties for costs orders made in favour of the firm.
The total net value of the costs is reportedly not far off £1m, with the Legal Aid Agency still reviewing the precise costs. Hwever, there are still 70 non-preferential unsecured creditors owed a total of almost £6.3m. The liquidator’s report confirms a number of these claims were from counsel chambers representing barristers who worked on cases led by PIL.
The liquidator is reviewing the company’s accounts and going through bank statements for the six years before PIL ceased to trade. The liquidator’s report states: ‘We have identified a number of potential claims and are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry into the affairs of the company and potential claims that may be present.
Between October 2018 and October 2019, time incurred came to almost £77,000, representing 266 hours’ work at an average charge-out rate of £288 per hour across all grades of staff. The liquidation will remain open until investigations have been concluded and all potential assets have been realised for the benefit of the estate this is likely to take two years.
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