Nigel Hedley
Solicitor
258496

Decision - Agreement

Outcome: Regulatory settlement agreement

Outcome date: 8 December 2025

Published date: 10 December 2025

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Hedley Solicitors Limited

Address(es): 30 Regent Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 1LP

Firm ID: 655983

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by agreement.

Decision details

1. Agreed outcome

1.1 Nigel Hedley (Mr Hedley), a solicitor and director of Hedley Solicitors Limited (the Firm), agrees to the following outcome to the investigation of his conduct by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA):

1. he is rebuked
2. to the publication of this agreement
3. he will pay the costs of the investigation of £600.

2. Summary of Facts

2.1 On 3 August 2022, Mr Hedley gave an undertaking to TLT LLP (TLT) when acting for the vendors of a property in a conveyancing transaction. TLT was acting for the leaseholder for the property.

2.2 Mr Hedley undertook to pay the requisite amounts to the lender to discharge two charges on the property and remove them from the title register on completion and receipt of funds.

2.3 On 11 August 2022, the purchase/sale of the property completed after the solicitors acting for the purchaser wrote to Mr Hedley/the Firm to confirm it had transferred the completion monies.

2.4 From October 2022, TLT began to contact Mr Hedley about his undertaking which remained outstanding. It referred to the inconvenience and possible prejudice that this was causing its client and the purchaser.

2.5 During 2023 and 2024, TLT continued to contact Mr Hedley on an urgent basis as he had still failed to perform his undertaking. This included it emailing several documents through to help enable him to remove the relevant charges in accordance with his undertaking

2.6 On 8 May 2024, Mr Hedley provided the final document to TLT to enable him to perform his undertaking.

3. Admissions

3.1 Mr Hedley makes the following admissions which the SRA accepts:

1. That by failing to perform an undertaking he gave to TLT in August 2022 until May 2024, he failed to do so within a reasonable amount of time. He has therefore breached Paragraph 1.3 of the SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs, RFLs and RSLs (‘the Code’).

4. Why a written rebuke is an appropriate outcome

4.1 The SRA’s Enforcement Strategy sets out its approach to the use of its enforcement powers where there has been a failure to meet its standards or requirements.

4.2 When considering the appropriate sanctions and controls in this matter, the SRA has taken into account the admissions made by Mr Hedley and the following mitigation which he has put forward:

1. There were some external factors which may have delayed him from performing his undertaking, including difficulties in obtaining some signed documents from his clients.
2. He does not have any regulatory history and has changed procedures at the Firm to prevent this happening again. The SRA therefore considers that there is a low risk of repetition.

4.3 The SRA considers that a written rebuke is the appropriate outcome because:

1. Undertakings are a vital part of legal practice, especially in conveyancing. They are personal promises given by solicitors which are relied upon by others to progress transactions efficiently and securely. As an experienced solicitor, Mr Hedley will be aware that a failure to perform an undertaking within a reasonable period can have severe consequences for clients and third parties.
2. It was Mr Hedley’s responsibility to perform the undertaking he gave to TLT within a reasonable period. It took him approximately 21 months to do so. This was in breach of his obligation under Paragraph 1.3 of the Code.
3. It was Mr Hedley’s responsibility to obtain the necessary signed documents from his clients. He was aware that TLT was frequently chasing him to obtain the information on an urgent basis.
4. His conduct could have caused harm. Some public sanction is therefore required to uphold public confidence in the delivery of legal services.

5. Publication

5.1 The SRA considers it appropriate that this agreement is published in the interests of transparency in the regulatory and disciplinary process. Mr Hedley agrees to the publication of this agreement.

6. Acting in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement

6.1 Mr Hedley agrees that he will not deny the admissions made in this agreement or act in any way which is inconsistent with it.

6.2 If Mr Hedley denies the admissions or acts in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement, the conduct which is subject to this agreement may be considered further by the SRA. That may result in a disciplinary outcome or a referral to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal on the original facts and allegations.

6.3 Denying the admissions made or acting in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement may also constitute a separate breach of principles 2 and 5 of the Principles and paragraph 7.3 of the Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs.

7. Costs

7.1 Mr Hedley agrees to pay the costs of the SRA's investigation in the sum of £600. Such costs are due within 28 days of a statement of costs due being issued by the SRA.