Barlow Lyde & Gilbert, Hill Dickinson and Gateley could be held liable for £500,000 in client money shortfalls relating to the Halliwells collapse, according to a letter sent out by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) last month.

The SRA wrote to the three firms on 21 April warning them to pay the money or face investigation. The shortfall includes £305,000 in unpaid client money with an additional £272,000 in interest added to the base amount.