Public Interest Lawyers - Case Update

Creditors of collapsed law firm Public Interest Lawyers are set to start receiving a dividend after the firm’s director pleaded guilty to legal aid fraud.

Public Interest Lawyers was managed by human rights lawyer Phil Shiner. In 2017, Mr Shiner was struck off after various charges of professional misconduct were upheld against him. The charges relate to applications for legal aid made by Mr Shiner in 2007 without disclosing that his firm had paid referral fees and cold called potential clients in Iraq about claims arising out of the Battle of Danny Boy. In total, Mr Shiner is believed to have earned £3 million from the legal aid contract.

Stratford Hamilton of PKF Littlejohn Advisory was appointed liquidator of the firm in December 2017. Over £2.2 million has been recovered since the appointment.

Mr Shiner initially pleaded not guilty to the charges of fraud brought against him, but recently pleaded guilty, paving the way to begin the long process of distributing funds to creditors, including a number of government departments.

The liquidator has been assisted by Devonshires and North West Law Services. His most recent report (filed in December 2023) can be found HERE.