Simpson Millar LLP

I have never left a review for anything before however I feel my family have been through a lot regarding the death of my Grandad in December 2018 and felt an obligation to explain why I feel it necessary to leave one.
My mother and my uncle were beneficiaries to my grandads estate, they have been in direct contact with the solicitor handling the case via email, my mother went through an extremely difficult time and couldn't cope with the passing so you expect regular updates or general communication from the solicitors. Alas, when asking for an update it would be a while before hearing anything. (I would like to also point out that she never answers her phone according to my mom and my uncle, she is literally impossible to get in touch with)
I am very well aware this process does not take a month or two, we were all very aware it could take a year which was okay but to be denied a general response is appalling throughout the year, even if the progress didn't change, a quick email to explain this, would have been wonderful and the stress taken off my mom. If the solicitor had said "Unfortunately we have not heard anything as of yet but we are still looking into it" or "we are looking at around 1 or 2 weeks before we potentially hear something but we will let you know if something happens" then perfect, my mother would have been able to spend up to two weeks NOT stressing because she knew that's how long this particular part of the process would take.

Unfortunately though, the stress and passing of my grandfather proved too much for her and she passed away in November 2019. I do not place all blame on legalities as she obviously went through a traumatic experience regarding her fathers passing however she barely received any response and when she did, to be honest, they weren't very sympathetic or helpful and she would get very upset. My uncle and herself would ask for an update and hear nothing in return.
I went through my moms emails (I have had to sort through other financial worries such as insurances and direct debits/subscriptions to cancel as my mother and father had a joint account) I found the emails from the solicitor completely lacking any form of emotion, I appreciate they are not there to counsel or sing you a lullaby, but it bothers me that when handling such a sensitive matter with family, a little decency or sympathy goes a long way. In my mothers case, a very long way. Nadia does not seem understanding and most emails are "Could you send this ASAP..." and most emails were presented this way, there just doesn't seem to be any care or emotion revolving this case. Every time my mom or my uncle tried to call she was always unavailable. I have had to watch my mom struggle with the stress of this case throughout the year and all she kept saying was "I just need it to be over with now, I can't mourn my dad with the worry and stress of not knowing what is going on."
She even spelt my mothers name wrong on the interim cheque after months of liaising. This shouldn't be a mistake at this stage, she has all the information about my mother with her, how can you spell her name wrong? Everyone I have spoken too has told me when their loved ones passed it did not take this long, even before the house went on the market it just seemed to be taking forever. People have told me their loved ones have been in terrible financial stress and it was STILL much earlier settling the estate.

I contacted the firm on the 20th of January wanting an update as I was upset with how this case has so far been handled, a nice gentleman named Daniel gave me a courtesy call apologising for how it has been dealt with and my details would be passed to the will and probate department as urgent and I would hear within 48 hours from them with an update.
I still have not heard anything.
I have not chased since as I wanted to go through my uncle before doing so, he is a teacher so he is very busy and now mourning the death of his sister. He informed me he still has not heard from Simpson Millar or particularly Nadia, the last update was that the house is holding up the estate but nothing more, nothing in regards to my mothers passing, to my knowledge. I am very emotional and hurt/upset how all of this has been dealt with.

I would not recommend this firm. My father is now completely distraught and financially very unstable, again, all we wanted were regular updates about the process but she never answered the phone and didn't respond to emails. The difficult part of all of this is, it was never about the money and its always a very sensitive subject to bring up, mom just wanted it done smoothly so she could get on with her life but now my dad is struggling and for you to take money my grandad he has paid you for this kind of service is abysmal.

This review is for a different branch.

Very disheartened by the conduct of the clinical negligence department (specifically Simon Wilson). So much time and effort has been put into this to then receive a letter to confirm that your fee earner has disregarded everything you have advised them. Greedy firm just wanting people on their books. Will refer this matter further to the legal ombudsman.

This review is for a different branch.

Dear Maya

I hope you are well.

Thank you for recent email forwarding invoice. I have had a barrage of emails of no communication, unfortunately I've been unwell last week certainly not responding to emails. I find this clearly incorrect as I have made a payment recently the sum of £1500 which I have clearly stated it was payable to you despite the major error you made with FDR and furthermore the previous amount which has been pending from when Neelam mall was Acting on my behalf which I mentioned to David Lister, Head of Family Law Department and was advised not to speak to the accounts department, I had raised my concerns about work not been done by Neelam and not only that she was not charging me for any emails which you will be able to see from WIP sheets unfortunately her moving over to your firm was counter intuitive to her family life as she had to address several departments and that was too much for her ( As she clearly stated ) and that's why she decided to move firms again which was a smaller firm. I became aware that Neelam did not carry out any work from the previous FDR which was in January 2022. I did not hear from her until 24th of February 2022 in the assumption that she was chasing the other party and surveyors as she advised in an email which was in relation to an outstanding bill which I settled immediately, it was a 35 day deadline no response from other party but I decided to contact them myself and was advised no correspondence was made by Neelam which at that point I was very concerned, I instructed her not to chase anything as I had corresponded with them myself and found that she was being untruthful unfortunately. ( I have email threads of our conversations though some were telephone conversations). when leaving Neelam asked during telephone conversation that she was moving firms again and to sign form to transfer to new firm and that I was to pay balance of £650 as she was reducing it from £1500 by this time I was very disturbed and distressed by her behaviour this was clearly I believe negligence and incompetent as she had not done any work as instructed. Since Neelam's departure from the firm nobody has addressed this matter and I've been ignored despite me informing yourself but no correspondence from anyone.

In regards to you discussing to continue acting on my behalf, I instructed you not further contact because I did not just want to pay for correspondence with yourself. I instructed you for results, with an excellent bio of expertise you have not delivered any of the services unfortunately.

Our communication has been mainly via emails which not sufficient and major errors were made as you aware in regards to last FDR which you incorrectly calculated my earnings and inserted on E1 form which should have been completed with changes failing to confirm with me, which led to me being coerced into negotiating at hearing and matters persisted further as I wasn't aware of the incorrect figures until mention by Mr. Sawar, lack of competency on your behalf and better position for the other side as my wages exceeded Mr Hayats.

what also came to my attention was that second FDR was not required and could have been advised by you but you failed to do so, I asked you to blind copy me into everything but only on two occasions. There were so many other errors when I asked you over telephone conversations about likely outcomes or reading my whole file as you initially charge me for reading but couldn't really advise over phone call or despite me attending office also very concerning which I was quite alarmed as you just sent me information which already in the court bundle no definitive answers from yourself. I've also emailed you in regards to the major errors and conversation in office and you didn't think that this is inappropriate and simply decided to ignore it.

Also, when I attended the office you didn't know much about my file when I asked questions. the recent ones were where you were asking me for documents which were already on file this in reference to " have you had a Decree Absolute also could you provide non molestation order this was very concerning as they were on file and many other documents.
I did mention that this matter would be later address as at this point in was exhausted and very exasperated and confused as to what I should do with you and the firm as I had already been through enough. You asked me for dates I was not available for court in August but later advised next year in March 2023 I believe that's because I prepared section 25 statement as you clearly demonstrated from the FDR, a lack of client care. What has also come to my attention is as to why you were persistent on emails as they were incurring excessive charges as you can recall you were advising me to have a video meeting rather than in person.

This is not ethical way of working and no client care it is also, a misconduct of business.

It's unfortunate that I was not in the best states of mind as well as being in a very vulnerable state of mind which you have clearly taken advantage of (my circumstances) as well as misleading me with information. Just so you could build on your retainer fees until I realised that I'm merely paying to correspondence.

I'm glad I picked up on your inappropriate behaviour since the FDR and most recently when you were asking for documents which you clearly already have on file, sadly my cause for concern was when you asked me for non-molestation document and absolute decree that demonstrates that you did not read all my file.

I realized from there on wards there's no compassion or empathy on your behalf even though I explained to you what I've been through. You have oversold and under delivered your services. I will reference this in regards to your performance with as an associate solicitor and an excellent bio, overselling and underperforming with no integrity as you have demonstrated in work ethics.


The total balance that you are referring to is incorrect as if you check your previous emails, you revised the new bill. After your recent email these fees you are trying to add clearly indicates your level of competency as you have not worked on my case as much as the outrageous fees added and have caused me inconvenience combined with excessive amount of stress that I do not need.

You mentioned all of the work, most of fees are just emails. The cap of £600 was due to myself instructing as there wasn't much work on your behalf to be carried out except email correspondence. I'm well within my rights to make queries for work and payments I have never asked or questioned until what happened at FDR you made it questionable due to poor inappropriate unprofessional behaviour. I'm your client who is paying you for services I can assess if inappropriate charges are being made.

In regards to final hearing you are not a solicitor whom I would instruct for the conduct of my case. In regards to offers Mr. Hayat has a clear stance as you are fully aware. As a solicitor you are lacking in your role, lacking in communication also lacking in client care the list can go on and its imperative to understand your role.

I was concerned the moment you made major error and realised that you can't work to the standards that you stated clearly you only has best interests in mounting excess amount of fees. I felt due to the errors made our professional relationship had broken down since FDR and no longer have any confidence in your work, I may have been vulnerable and been through DMV however, I have a great attitude of understanding, I hope you can understand and appreciate as to why I'm rescinding my services from you and your organisation.

Could you please kindly revise invoice immediately along with ensuring there is no further inconvenience caused.

I kindly ask that you compensate me for all the difficulty and undue stress that has been caused, my time that has been wasted along with the cost of the FDR whereby major error was clearly made by you, also you could have advised for a final hearing but fail to do so again no client care.

Could you kindly send all my file via email or post immediately please.

This review is for a different branch.

Really wish i had seen these reviews before i agreed for them to act for me.
I am in a no chain either end purchase. Four months later i am not able to speak to anyone at all about my purchase.
I received an email 2 weeks ago saying they have restructured their conveyancing team and i would now be dealt with by Hamzah Rehman the same person who was supposedly always dealing with me.
I have left messages and emails as my sellers are getting very annoyed, but i am just ghosted.
I am an old age pensioner and really can’t take anymore of this.

This review is for a different branch.

Let's start with the information that my mortgage offer was due to expire on 17.09 and the purchase of the flat was completed on 16.09...
Simpson Millar was very slow in answering my emails and NEVER answered my calls, except at the end when the company changed the person who was in charge of my case.
I probably asked them 20 times to change the email we are using for correspondence with no success.

We are very disappointed with their managers too as they did not respond to our calls and emails asking for help.

A positive side of our experience with them is that the last persons involved with dealing with our case were good and managed to complete the deal on the last day...

I will advise you, to try to avoid Simpson Millar...