Burnetts Solicitors Avis 

Following a disastrous experience with a no win no fee organisation, someone recommended Mick Laffey at Burnetts and my goodness I’m glad they did. From start to finish, Mick and his team have been diligent, professional and caring . I have felt that this case has been as important to them as it is to me and I’ve never had to chase for information or progress, in fact Mick is always one step ahead! His depth of knowledge and expertise is not only impressive, it’s reassuring too which is hugely important. I’d have no hesitation in recommending Burnetts to anyone needing reliable, professional and caring services .

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude, and offer my strongest recommendation for Burnetts solicitors, and their team, specifically Mick Laffey and his two assistants, Amelia Patrick and Amy Lamb, who recently represented me in a personal injury claim. Following a very nasty industrial accident, I was faced with significant physical and emotional distress, as well as financial uncertainty. I was initially hesitant to pursue legal action, but after consulting Burnetts, I was immediately put at ease by their professionalism and compassionate approach !

Burnetts are incredible. I felt cared for, and reassured the whole time. Michelle and Charlotte are incredibly professional but compassionate and approachable too.No question was too silly to ask, they were always quick to return my calls or emails. I felt really looked after. I felt they journeyed with me emotionally, which really helped me keep going with what was a really difficult time. I would not hesitate in using Burnetts again.

My journey with Burnetts Solicitors LLP began enveloped in optimism, as I embarked on drafting my Will in 2022. This pivotal document, crafted to safeguard my children's future, marked a significant stride in both my personal and legal realms. Yet, as the calendar pages turned to August 2023, this serene legal voyage encountered unforeseen storms. Burnetts' decision to represent my landlord, thereby engaging Johnny Coulthard, a solicitor renowned for his expertise in Wills, signaled the beginning of a period fraught with complexity and challenge.

The Beacon of Initial Trust: Dimmed by Subsequent Actions

The initial drafting of my Will with Burnetts had laid the foundations of trust and professional confidence. However, the unfolding events from August 2023 onwards cast a long shadow over this once-sturdy relationship. The firm's representation of my landlord in a dispute concerning an asset earmarked for my children in my Will marked a profound deviation from the duty of care and trust I had anticipated, illuminating a stark conflict of interest.

Navigating Stormy Legal Waters: Conflict and Controversy

The dispute's complexity deepened with Burnetts’ misrepresentation of arrears on behalf of my landlord—a claim I contested with immediacy. The lack of a timely and substantive response from the firm led to a cascade of adverse actions, climaxing in an unlawful lockout and an illegal eviction, underpinned by what seemed to be a contrived case for forfeiture. This series of events not only tested the bounds of our professional relationship but also cast a spotlight on pressing ethical concerns, particularly highlighting the breach of fiduciary duty.

A Quest for Resolution: Hindered by Communication Breakdowns

In my quest for clarity and resolution, I reached out to Lydia Sutton, head of compliance at Burnetts, armed with complaints and Subject Access Request (SAR) submissions. My efforts, aimed at untangling the web of confusion and seeking rectification, were met with responses that seemed dismissive and selective at best, complicating the path to safeguarding my interests and those of my children.

The Call for Ethical Reckoning and Transparency

This journey has not only underscored the paramount importance of ethical conduct and transparency but also highlighted the meticulous management of conflicts of interest within the legal profession. The dual representation by Burnetts, set against the backdrop of my Will and the ensuing asset dispute, calls for a reassessment of the firm’s ethical compass and operational priorities.

Charting a Course Toward Accountability and Justice

As this narrative continues to unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that Burnetts Solicitors LLP must navigate these turbulent waters with a steadfast commitment to ethical integrity, enhanced client communication, and the resolution of conflicts of interest. The road ahead must be paved with actions that not only restore trust but also ensure accountability and epitomize the pinnacle of legal service.

In the Shadow of These Events: GDPR Compliance and Data Stewardship

The handling of my Subject Access Request (SAR), perceived as lacking in both transparency and adequacy, raises a poignant question about Burnetts Solicitors LLP’s stewardship of sensitive personal data in alignment with GDPR standards. This facet of the saga, though perhaps subtler than the ethical and conflict of interest concerns, remains critically significant in its implications for trust and compliance.

As this tale of legal and ethical intricacies continues to weave its narrative, it serves not only as a chronicle of personal conflict and the pursuit of justice but also as a broader reflection on the indispensable importance of ethical conduct, transparency, and GDPR compliance within the legal profession.

I’ve used Mike Nicholls several times now and I’ve actually followed him from the previous company he worked for.
Nothing is too much trouble and I totally trust him to give the best advice.
He’s an extremely nice guy as well.

Would not recommend being on the receiving end of this company. They fraudulently falsify information (proven). Act dishonestly, manipulate facts and just outright lie to achieve their results. How they haven’t been shut down is beyond me. They accept their clients instructions without any due diligence. They act like a pack of rabid wolves, will not communicate, don’t reply and no such thing as mediation. Could be improved if they decided to act within the legislation rather than ignoring it. Prime example: Knowingly sending correspondence to an address they know it won’t be received, getting the result they want, then lying to claim you gave them the correct address and all of a sudden 2 months later start using the correct address even though you have proof they had it prior. Dodgy! Reported to the SRA. Proceed with caution.

Great service from Mick Laffey my solicitor and Ruby Jones. Kept me updated throughout my claim and was always there to answer any of my questions.

Would highly recommend Burnett Solicitors to anyone.

Thank you once again

Fantastic service throughout from Diane and the Residential Conveyancing team. Moved into a new build and couldn't ask for a smoother process.

Would definitely recommend Burnetts.

We’re treat well from the very start of my husband’s claim after a brain injury after a accident at work on the 4 th April 2022.The staff went all out to get us the very best claim.Mick Laffey our solicitor was so good keeping us informed with everything that was being done.Would highly recommend Burnetts as solicitors
The case was finished on the 10th November 2023

Extraordinary attention to the detail of my case - I felt my case was important to them despite it not being a case that would bring in much revenue for them. I was treated with respect and kindness and the wealth of knowledge and experience Paul Brown showed in terms of traumatic brain injury cases was extremely impressive. I recommend them unreservedly.

After 3 years of hard and often challenging work, my case was successfully concluded. This is with thanks to Lynne and her team at Burnetts solicitors in Cockermouth, and the brilliant medical experts and barrister instructed to act on my behalf. I was kept well informed on all aspects of my case and I received updates in a timely manner. Lynne is highly experienced in Medical Negligence and I would absolutely recommend Lynne and Burnetts solicitors to others. They are professional, compassionate and knowledgeable in what they do .Thank you.

I needed corporate advice for shareholding agreements for a new business venture. Michael Walby, corporate lawyer and partner, who I met with there was fantastic. Covered all the points to ensure that nothing was missed. I also wanted to say what a warm welcome I got at their new offices at Rosehill in Carlisle. Very impressive. Innovative and modern, definitely a company I want to work with for my business ventures.

Appalling. Would not recommend to anyone.

Poor service, not advised properly from the start. Didn't discuss changing to tenancy in common on the first instance. Unnecessary telephone calls made to me them charged. Lacking empathy and also encouraged mediation despite a domestic violence history in relationship. When spoke about financial concerns and costs encouraged to get a loan, knowing I didn't have finances to cover this. Totally money grabbing and no empathy. Butterworths are so much better.

I contacted Burnetts Solicitors as I'm currently buying a B&B business and their website claims they are experts in this sector. My initial enquiries and questions were dealt with swiftly, which convinced me to appoint them even though they were more expensive than other quotes. My initial contact was with SS, who explained she would be on holiday the following week and if I decided to appoint them I could contact RM and he would handle things while she was away. The following week I contacted R to appoint them, sent them my ID and proof address and expected things to start moving with the purchase and sale of another property. The following week, when S returned she contacted me asking for the information I'd sent R the week before, as he had not forwarded her my emails, or obviously spoke to her at all about my transactions!

By this time it had been 9 days since I appointed them and I was no further forward. I was told by S that I needed to pay £1,000 to get things moving, which I did straight away. Then I received an email from S saying that their compliance department was not happy with the passport and proof of address docs I sent them and until they were they wouldn't start working for me! They took my money and then said they won't start working for me! Also, I never received any terms of business or scope of work from them at any point.

S replied to me by saying, "it may be better overall if you use someone more local to you". Shocking! Why bother having a website claiming to be experts in the Tourism and Leisure sector if they are only interested in local business?? Maybe in the north of England, they don't understand that WWW stands for World Wide Web and if you make boasts on a website you're likely to get enquiries from people that aren't local! Maybe they should stick to postcards in their local newsagents window instead!

I was left feeling like they didn't want my business and didn't respect me as a client. To make matters worse they took nearly 2 weeks to return the £1,000 I paid them!!

Don't be fooled by their fancy website and exaggerated claims of "unfailingly excellent”, which is far from what I experienced! As they just wasted my time and kept my money for an unreasonable length of time.

Update- 5 years later I have received a request to remove names from the review or it will be deleted. So it's ok to have names in good reviews but not bad ones? My review still stands of this Unprofessional, Unorganised bunch of time wasters!