Expelled partner fights Halliwells

Dennis's solicitor Roger Rubin, a partner at Manchester firm Shammah Nichols where Dennis also works as a consultant, told The Lawyer: "Mr Dennis wishes to make it absolutely clear that he wholly and unreservedly denies any allegation of misappropriation of client account funds for personal benefit, or indeed any misuse of Halliwell Landau client accounts."

Halliwells issued a High Court claim against Dennis last October, and there have been several interlocutory hearings. The firm has also instructed Deloitte & Touche to audit its client accounts for any irregularities following Dennis's departure.

Halliwells reported Dennis to the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors (OSS) for alleged misappropriation of client funds, and an investigation was launched last week (The Lawyer, 27 January).

Rubin claims that Halliwells brought in the OSS to add commercial pressure to its case. "The fact that Halliwell Landau has, in seeking to exert commercial pressure within what is in effect a partnership dispute, referred the matter to the OSS and that consequently the OSS is obligated to conduct an investigation, does not, and should not, add credence to such unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations," he said.

Halliwells declined to comment on an ongoing case.