“Hackwood Houston” is a division and trading name of Stonehewer Moss Limited.
The use of the name “Hackwood Houston”, “Stonehewer Moss” and words or phrases such as “firm”, “we”, “us”, “law firm” are for convenience only. Legal responsibility for the provision of services to clients is defined in engagement terms entered into between clients and Stonehewer Moss Limited and these should be relied upon in determining liability for the services provided.
In order to provide our services, Hackwood Houston will ask for information about you and the nature of the proposed work for the purpose of conflict checking, credit checking, client identification procedures and other bona fide purposes. This information (which may include personal data) may be disclosed to any Stonehewer Moss Limited entity and/or some or all of its employees, consultants or members for such purposes.
Frauds and Scams
Please be aware that in order to perpetrate a scam or fraud, criminals may pose as someone from Hackwood Houston or Stonehewer Moss. Usually these scams or frauds are carried out by fake emails suggesting you may receive a financial benefit. The emails often also contain links to supposedly relevant websites. To be effective the scam or fraud requires you to enter into communication with the fraudster, either by responding to the email or clicking the attached link. If you receive an email of this nature do not correspond with the sender. It is highly unlikely that it originates from Hackwood Houston or Stonehewer Moss. If you are advised that we have changed banking details, asked for money or your bank details please contact us immediately at info@stone hewermoss.co.uk. We report scams that may constitute crimes to the Police and the National Crime Agency and to our regulators, the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Anti-Money Laundering
We are required to identify clients for the purposes of applicable anti-money laundering legislation. Amongst other things, the type of client, its business and the geographical location will dictate the due diligence standard and documentary evidence we are required to obtain in order to do this. Where possible, we will obtain this information from publically available sources but in circumstance where the information is not available we will need to obtain the information directly from you. Information provided to us for these purposes will only be used only for these purposes. We may share this information with other Stonehewer Moss entities. If we are not able obtain all the necessary documentation within a reasonable time frame we may not be able to act for you.
Anti-Bribery & Anti-Corruption
Stonehewer Moss Limited has anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies and procedures which apply to all our partners, consultants and employees. These policies prohibit the making, offering or promising to make a payment or transfer of anything of value including the provision of any service, gift or entertainment for any improper purpose or business advantage. These policies apply to dealings with all third parties on our behalf. They specifically prohibit such dealings with government personnel and other officials for the purpose of improperly obtaining or retaining business or for any other improper purpose or business advantage.
Legal services are provided by Stonehewer Moss Limited, a limited liability company registered in England and Wales with number 05426583. Stonehewer Moss Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA number 471159 .
The term “partner” is used to refer to a member of Stonehewer Moss Limited or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of the members of Stonehewer Moss Limited and non-members designated as partners is open to inspection at its registered office at Citadel House Solvay Road, Winnington, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 4DP.
Stonehewer Moss is registered for the purpose of VAT in England and Wales (VAT number 811729341). Its professional indemnity insurance is provided by professional indemnity insurer Endurance PLC. The territorial coverage of our policy is worldwide.
Financial Services
Stonehewer Moss Limited is not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 but we are able, in certain circumstances to offer a limited range of investment services to clients because it is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority which has complaints and redress procedures. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Standards. Stonehewer Moss Limited is included on the register and maintained by the FCA so that we can carry on insurance mediation activity (the advising selling and administration of insurance contracts). The register can be accessed via the FCA Website. This part of our business including arrangements for complaints or redress if something goes wrong is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Please note: any investment decision is for Hackwood Houston or Stonehewer Moss clients to make and no communication by us should be treated as an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity.
Complaints
Hackwood Houston and Stonehewer Moss are committed to providing high quality legal advice and client care. In the event of a problem with or a query about the way in which your matter is being handled or if you feel that our services can be improved, we would ask you in the first instance to raise the matter with the contact with whom you deal or with the head of the Business Unit where the work has been carried out. In the event that you are dissatisfied with any of the services that we have provided to you, it is your right to complain. This includes your right to complain about any bill. Stonehewer Moss Limited has a formal complaints procedure, a copy of which can be provided on request. Formal complaints should be addressed to our senior partner Dominic Moss at d.moss@stonehewermoss.co.uk
If, for any reason, we are unable to resolve any problem between us, you may be able to use the complaints and redress procedures operated by the Legal Ombudsman. This service is open to all members of the public, certain small businesses, charities, clubs, societies, associations and trusts. The Legal Ombudsman’s details of eligibility and requirements can be found here. There are time limits on making such a complaint, generally 6 months from our written response to your formal complaint and six years from the out/admission complained of or 3 years from you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint. Contact details for the Legal Ombudsman are www.legalombudsman.org.uk Phone: 0300 555 0333 or inquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is the professional regulator of Stonehewer Moss Limited and handles complaints relating to professional misconduct. The Solicitors’ Code of Conduct can be accessed via the SRA website.
Client funds, payments on account and interest
Stonehewer Moss Limited does not provide banking services and we will accept client funds only to the extent necessary to undertake professional services for you, and to hold money on account for anticipated costs and expenses including our own. Where Stonehewer Moss Limited holds money in its client accounts, interest will be paid that is fair and reasonable for the whole period for which the client money is held. Stonehewer Moss Limited holds client accounts with Lloyds Bank plc. Interest payable will be calculated by reference to the rate set by Lloyds Bank plc which is a variable rate subject to change. No interest is payable if the amount calculated on the balance held is £20 or less.
Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013
If you have instructed us as an individual to act for you in your personal capacity, under the Consumer Contracts (information, cancellation and additional charges) Regulations 2013, you have the right to cancel your instructions within 14 days of receiving our client engagement letter. You can cancel your instruction by any clear statement setting out your decision to cancel. Once we have started work on your file you may be required to pay reasonable costs for work done up to the point of cancellation.