Paul Michael Connolly

Without doubt the worst professional services firm I have ever encountered. They estimated that administering my relative’s estate would take 9-12 months. Now, four and a half year’s later, they are holding my family’s money and paying almost no interest on it, while refusing to answer my emails or return my calls. Along the way they have got the law wrong (admitted), neglected to claim the nil rate band for inheritance tax, provided an incorrect IHT reference number so the payment could not be traced by HMRC, taken money from our client account for a bill which they hadn’t showed us (and which proved to be grossly inflated), failed to request the deceased’s money from banks for over two years and consistently failed to respond when asked for updates. There are clear breaches of the SRA rules here: taking money before invoices are sent to the client, holding money in client account without good reason, communicating with government agencies contrary to the client’s interests and without their knowledge, failing to respond to a complaint for over 8 months. This firm should not be in business. The ombudsman process is glacial, doubtless because Sparlings are deliberately dragging it out as much as they can. If this doesn’t sound like the sort of experience you are looking for, avoid Sparlings like the plague.

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Paul Michael Connolly

Laura Caroline Gajewska

We used Sparlings successfully some years ago so went back to them for a Land Title issue on neighbouring land which was being developed. The developer had agreed to give us a very small parcel of land to avoid the destruction of a hedge as they fenced the boundary. The allocated solicitor did not seem too interested at all from the very outset. Maybe his style is low key and quiet but he did not fill me with confidence. My biggest concern came when the proposed Transfer Deed came from the developer with multiple conditions and caveats about my own rights of access to the land they were giving me but also rights which the developer wanted to retain. My solicitor told me that such conditions were "not unusual" in such situations and advised me to accept them. This did not feel right, so I challenged him to tell the developer that all the conditions should be removed as they were not appropriate in any way to this specific transaction. Maybe they would be for larger areas of land but, for a private transfer of land into my sole ownership, they seemed onerous. The developer agreed to remove them all and we finalised the deal. I was amazed at the advice my solicitor had given me - potentially causing issues in the future especially if I was to sell my house. My view was that the advice he gave was wrong and that he was almost neglectful of my case. I was left with the feeling that he did not care and that I, not a solicitor at all, had been the one who had had to push to get the right deal for me. A shame, as another Sparlings partner had been superb some years ago.

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Paul Michael Connolly

We have been very satisfied with the work you have done for us, Thank you.

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Paul Michael Connolly

At a very stressful time, everything was dealt with calmly, professionally, and efficiently. This is key to have a solicitor, and his team who has your best interest and are quite trustworthy. I wouldn't like the stress of selling again. But, will definitely use Sparling again if needed.

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Paul Michael Connolly