Property Investment Schemes - Red Flags for Law Firms & Licensed Conveyancers

Introduction

Most investment schemes are genuine and aimed at those seeking to invest their capital and achieve a good return: these investment schemes raise no issues. However, there will always be those who seek to exploit potential investors with promises of high returns with the underlying investment being tenuous or in some cases non-existent.

Knowing what you need to look out for and understanding how your professional obligations tie in when dealing with investment schemes will ensure you do not put your client's assets at risk and come to the attention of the SRA.

This remains a hot topic as the SRA updated their warning notice in 2020 following their thematic review of dubious investment schemes. In their report it was stated that the SRA had taken 48 solicitors and two firms to the SDT resulting in 16 strike-offs, eight suspensions and £870,000 worth of fines in the past five years.

A more recent decision in 2022 led to a fine for a solicitor who missed the red flags that the investment scheme was dubious, proving that it is still very much on the SRA's radar.

This webinar will provide practical advice on how to recognise a dubious investment scheme and the red flags that legal professionals should look out for.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• Types of investment schemes that are at high risk of being dubious
• Which of the SRA's principles come into play?
• Which rules of the code of conduct for firms/solicitors would be breached
• The risk of a conflict of interest arising
• What red flags should you look out for?
• Action to take to mitigate the risks of being involved in a dubious investment scheme

This webinar was recorded on 25th November 2022