I have no idea what you actually sent as a 'chase up' but there a few things you need to do. First I suggest you send another email to help@moorsidelegal.co.uk with the following:
Subject: Urgent: Non-response re conduct of litigation (COLP clarification)
Dear Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP),
Further to my email of [date], no response has been received within the 7-day deadline. In light of the absence of any clarification, I have today submitted a report to the SRA concerning the following:
• Ms Safina Zubair’s witness statement asserting: “I am a Paralegal … and I have conduct of this matter subject to the supervision of my Principal.”
• Your bundle cover letter filed to the court signed only as “Moorside Legal Services Ltd”, which also contained a settlement proposal, with no named individual or status.
Please provide, within 48 hours:
1. The name and professional status of the person at Moorside who has conduct of these proceedings and who is personally authorised to conduct litigation;
2. The name and professional status of the individual who drafted and sent the cover letter to the court, and confirmation that they are personally authorised to conduct litigation;
3. Confirmation that all reserved acts in these proceedings have been undertaken by an authorised person, and if any were not, what remedial steps you will now take.
For the avoidance of doubt, I will place this correspondence before the court and rely on Mazur & Anor v CRS LLP [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB) when addressing conduct and costs.
Please note that this email is my final 48-hour chaser. An SRA report has been submitted, and I will update the SRA if your response arrives.
Yours faithfully,
[Your full name]
At the same time, you notify the court with an email for the file to Enquiries.kingston.countycourt
@justice.gov.uk and you CC help@moorsidelegal.co.uk and yourself:
Subject: M8MP864A – Conduct of litigation issue; SRA referral; request to note and reserve costs
Dear Sir/Madam,
I write to record that Moorside Legal Services Ltd (for the Claimant) has not responded to my 7-day request for clarification after their paralegal, Ms Safina Zubair, stated in her witness statement that she “has conduct of this matter subject to the supervision of [her] Principal”. A bundle cover letter was also filed signed only “Moorside Legal Services Ltd”, containing a settlement proposal, with no named individual or status.
Given the proximity of the hearing, I have reported the matter to the SRA and sent a 48-hour final chaser to the firm’s Compliance Officer of Legal Practice (COLP) today. I respectfully invite the Court to (i) note the issue, (ii) direct the Claimant to identify on the record the authorised individual with conduct and to confirm that all reserved acts have been undertaken by that person, and (iii) reserve costs arising from any improper conduct, with reference to Mazur & Anor v CRS LLP [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB).
I also enclose a concise Costs note (CPR 27.14(2)(g)) limited to the unnecessary work caused by the conduct issue raised herein. If required, I respectfully seek the Court’s permission to rely on this short note at the hearing. Copies served on the Claimant’s solicitors today.
Yours faithfully,
[Your full name]
[Your address]
Include the following costs note with the above email (adapt the times if necessary at the LiP rate of £19/hour:
IN THE COUNTY COURT AT KINGSTON UPON THAMES
Claim No.: M8MP864A
Between: National Car Parks Ltd (Claimant) and [your full name] (Defendant)
Costs note – unreasonable conduct (CPR 27.14(2)(g))
Background
1. The Claimant’s paralegal, Ms Safina Zubair, states in her witness statement that she “has conduct of this matter subject to the supervision of [her] Principal”.
2. The Claimant also filed a court cover letter signed only as “Moorside Legal Services Ltd”, which included a settlement proposal but did not identify the individual author or their professional status.
3. Those features have required me to take issue, write to the firm’s COLP, prepare regulatory correspondence, and address the point for the Court, increasing time and cost.
Law
4. Conduct of litigation is a reserved activity. The High Court in Mazur & Anor v CRS LLP [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB) confirms that non-authorised employees cannot conduct litigation, even under supervision; employment/supervision does not confer entitlement.
5. Under CPR 27.14(2)(g) the Court may order costs where a party has behaved unreasonably in bringing, defending, or conducting proceedings.
Application to the facts
6. The paralegal’s express assertion that she “has conduct” (even “subject to supervision”) conflicts with Mazur.
7. Filing a court document bearing only the firm’s name—and containing a settlement proposal—without identifying the authorised individual responsible obscures accountability for reserved acts.
8. That conduct has been unreasonable, necessitating additional work by the Defendant to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings and regulatory compliance.
Costs sought (summary schedule)
9. I ask the Court to award costs under CPR 27.14(2)(g) at the LiP rate of £19/hour, limited strictly to the unnecessary work caused by the above, namely:
[2:00] Reviewing WS wording and researching Mazur – £38.00
[0:30] Drafting COLP letter and chaser – £9.50
[1:00] Preparing SRA report email (and exhibits) – £19.00
[0:30] Preparing this costs note and short oral submissions – £9.50
Subtotal: £76.00
Total claimed: £76.00
10. The Defendant respectfully invites the Court to:
(a) find that the Claimant’s conduct has been unreasonable within r.27.14(2)(g); and
(b) award the Defendant the limited costs set out above.
You download this
SRA Report Form, complete it and email it back to report@sra.org.uk and CC yourself. Use the following to guide you through the form:
Firm: Moorside Legal Services Ltd (ABS).
Matter: National Car Parks Ltd v [Defendant], Claim No. M8MP864A, hearing listed [8 October 2025, 11:45].
Summary of concern:
A paralegal, Ms Safina Zubair, signed a witness statement stating: “I am a Paralegal employed by Moorside and I have conduct of this matter subject to the supervision of my Principal.” The firm also filed a bundle cover letter to the court signed only as “Moorside Legal Services Ltd” which included a settlement proposal, without identifying the individual author or their status. My concern is that a non-authorised individual is asserting conduct of litigation and potentially performing reserved acts.
Why this engages SRA regulation:
Conduct of litigation is a reserved activity. The High Court in Mazur & Anor v CRS LLP [2025] EWHC 2341 (KB) held that non-authorised employees cannot “conduct litigation” even if supervised; employment/supervision does not confer entitlement. The witness statement wording is inconsistent with that position and may reflect improper conduct within an SRA-regulated ABS. The unsigned (by individual) court letter compounds the concern by obscuring who is responsible for reserved steps and whether they are authorised.
Chronology:
• [Date] – Claimant’s witness statement served; wording quoted above.
• [Date] – Bundle cover letter filed to court, signed only “Moorside Legal Services Ltd”, including a settlement proposal.
• [Date] – I wrote to the firm’s COLP seeking clarification and identification of the authorised individual with conduct; 7-day deadline given.
• [Date] – No response received.
• [Today’s date] – Report submitted to the SRA; 48-hour final chaser sent to COLP.
Potential breaches:
• Reserved legal activities undertaken/held out by non-authorised person (Legal Services Act 2007; SRA Principles/Code).
• Failure to ensure proper supervision and clarity of responsibility; opacity as to who is conducting litigation; potential misrepresentation to the court.
Outcome sought:
• Regulatory review of Moorside’s arrangements for conduct of litigation.
• Confirmation/correction that only authorised individuals have conduct and perform reserved acts; identification of the authorised individual on the court record.
• Any remediation the SRA deems appropriate, including guidance to prevent recurrence.
Attachments (to upload):
1. Extract of Ms Zubair’s witness statement (with “have conduct” wording highlighted).
2. Copy of the court cover letter signed “Moorside Legal Services Ltd”.
3. My email to the COLP dated [date] and proof of non-response.
4. Today’s 48-hour chaser.
5. Hearing notice (for context).
You don't have much time so please get this done today.
