FINANCIAL FRAUDSTER NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Harvey KC and Clerksroom Direct Ltd Accused of Fraudulent Practices: Barrister Fails to Refund £5400 to Disgruntled Client Amidst "Horse Trading" Allegations.
London, UK – A damning Financial Fraudster News Investigations exclusive today reveals explosive allegations of fraudulent practices against a prominent barrister, Stephen Harvey KC, and his purported clerks, Clerksroom Direct Ltd. Email evidence obtained by FFN exposes how the Sara Robinson Trust, majority owner of parent company FFN Media Group, became the victim of dishonest conduct, suffering a significant financial loss after Mr. Harvey KC allegedly reneged on a promised full refund for services never rendered.
The heart of the complaint centres on an egregious breach of contract. Stephen Harvey KC, a leading barrister, was retained to represent the Sara Robinson Trust in a private prosecution hearing. However, Mr. Harvey KC is accused of failing to attend the scheduled hearing and subsequently failing to make good on a full refund he explicitly promised.
The Broken Promise: £5,400 Withheld
FFN Investigations has seen email evidence showing that Stephen Harvey KC personally offered to repay in full the sum of £5,900 to the Trust, in an email dated March 27th, 2023. Despite this clear commitment, Mr. Harvey KC has reportedly returned only £900 of the £5,400 owed (after the initial £5,900 payment less the £500, which was already received in the initial payment). The remaining £5,400 is now believed by the Trust to have been shared with the Taunton-based Clerksroom Direct Ltd, who purportedly act as Harvey's clerks.
Ross James, FFN Investigations' legal commentator, weighed in: "If a King’s Counsel barrister is found to be misleading or acting dishonestly or in a manner which gives rise to impropriety, that’s a big problem! If a client is promised a full refund in an email that is attributable to Counsel as alleged, Counsel is duly bound by his or her words – it’s as simple as that. The consequence for his or her professional standards and reputation are simply unthinkable, as they would leave themselves open to civil action."
A spokesperson for the US-based Sara Robinson Trust expressed profound concern, stating, "The Trust is extremely troubled by the unprofessionalism and impropriety shown by a leading lawyer… A lawyer is only as good as his or her word."
"Horse Trading" Allegations at Clerksroom Direct Ltd
Further email exchanges seen by FFN Investigations, dating back to January 2023, reveal astonishing details of communications between Clerksroom Direct Ltd – led by Directors Harry Hodgkin (himself a barrister) and Stephen Ward – and agents acting for the Sara Robinson Trust. These exchanges reveal alleged sharp practices, with Clerksroom Direct Ltd, supposedly acting as Harvey's impartial clerk, appearing to actively "horse trade" for the Trust to appoint Harvey at a reduced rate.
The Trust spokesperson elaborated: "Stassi Jennings [a Clerksroom Direct employee] attempted to sell Harvey's services at a reduced amount in excess of £3,000 within 72 hours for the instruction, based on the case papers. This had a very distasteful feel. Days after receiving the payment, Harvey then astonishingly withdrew from the case just days before the scheduled hearing."
Adding insult to injury, the Trust spokesperson highlighted the inherent contradiction in Harvey's withdrawal: "The very same case papers that prompted Harvey to withdraw as prosecuting Counsel were subsequently handled by competent Junior Counsel, who, leveraging those same papers, successfully earned the Trust a full trial later this year." This suggests that Mr. Harvey KC's alleged withdrawal was not due to the merits of the case but potentially other, unstated reasons.
Call for Justice and Regulatory Action
The Sara Robinson Trust firmly believes it has been scammed by Mr. Stephen Harvey KC and Clerksroom Direct. The Trust has confirmed its intention to file formal complaints with both the Bar Council and the Solicitors Regulation Authority regarding this alleged misconduct. Furthermore, the Trust will pursue civil or criminal action to recover its losses and ensure justice is served.
Financial Fraudster News will continue to monitor this developing story closely, providing comprehensive coverage of all future developments and any legal action that may ensue.
Stephen Harvey KC and Clerksroom Direct Ltd have both been invited to comment on these serious allegations but have declined to do so.
