Protecting your information in a Digital Age: What clients should know about Cybersecurity

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In today’s digital world, most communication between solicitors and clients takes place online. Clients often share personal, financial and legal information, making it essential to remain alert to cyber threats. Cybersecurity plays a vital role in protecting confidentiality and maintaining trust.

Law firms handle sensitive materials such as identification documents, contracts and financial records, all of which can be attractive to criminals. Cyber incidents in the legal sector can include phishing emails, ransomware, impersonation scams and data breaches, each of which may lead to financial loss or reputational harm.

Simple steps to stay Cyber Safe: 

  • Be cautious of unexpected emails or messages, particularly those requesting changes to payment details or urgent action. Always confirm such requests by calling your solicitor using a verified number.
  • Avoid sending sensitive identification documents by standard email. Use secure upload links or password-protected files instead.
  • Do not access confidential information over public Wi-Fi networks or shared computers.
  • Keep your devices up to date and ensure reputable antivirus protection is installed.
  • Use strong, unique passwords for your accounts and consider using a password manager for added security.

Cyber risks can arise across all areas of legal practice. Conveyancing and Bridging Finance transactions are sometimes targeted by fraudsters seeking to intercept or redirect funds, while Immigration, Family, Probate and Litigation matters often involve highly confidential information. Each area of practice presents its own challenges and careful handling of data, combined with robust digital security practices, remain essential throughout the profession.

UK Data Protection Law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, sets out how personal information should be managed and protected. These frameworks exist to safeguard individuals and ensure that information is handled responsibly. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) provides guidance on best practice and maintaining confidentiality in a digital age.

 Our Commitment to Clients

At Sriharans Solicitors, we understand that trust lies at the heart of every client relationship. We take the protection of our clients’ information extremely seriously and handle all data in accordance with professional and ethical standards. Our internal systems and procedures are regularly reviewed to help safeguard against emerging cyber threats and our team remains alert to risks that could affect client confidentiality. By combining sound legal practice with careful data management, we aim to provide a safe, transparent and reliable service at all times.

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. While solicitors continue to strengthen their systems and processes, clients also play an important role by remaining vigilant and reporting anything suspicious. Open and honest communication between solicitor and client is often the best protection. If you ever receive an unexpected or concerning message, contact your solicitor immediately using verified contact details.

We at Sriharans believe that protecting client information is not merely a professional duty it is a fundamental part of how we practice law. By remaining alert and following a few straightforward precautions, clients and solicitors can work together to ensure that personal and financial information remains secure throughout every stage of a legal matter.

Reliable Sources of Cybersecurity information:

If you would like to read more about protecting your information and recognising genuine online communication, the resources below provide clear, reliable guidance from trusted UK authorities on data protection and online security:

Safeguarding Lenders in Bridging Finance: Key Takeaways from HNW Lending Ltd v Lawrence (2025)”

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Bridging Finance is characterised by its flexibility and speed, sometimes completed in a matter of days to meet the demands of time-sensitive property and re-mortgage transactions. Whilst this provides clear advantages to a borrower, it also highlights the importance of ensuring that lenders have strong legal safeguards in place.

When a default occurs, enforcement proceedings can become complex. In the recent High Court case of HNW Lending Ltd v Lawrence (2025), a £1.5 million bridging loan was advanced to a corporate borrower. Pursuant to the loan agreement, HNW Lending Ltd was appointed as ‘Security Agent’ to hold and enforce security for the benefit of the lenders. The borrower defaulted and HNW Lending Ltd sought to enforce its security. The borrower argued that HNW Lending Ltd, as the ‘Security Agent’ had no grounds to enforce and could only be treated as a third party under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. The Court rejected this argument and confirmed that HNW Lending Ltd was validly appointed to act for the lenders and could enforce the loan and security. This case confirms that security agents can enforce bridging loan rights, provided the documentation is clear, properly executed, and promptly registered.

Although speed and efficiency are vital in bridging finance, perfecting security remains paramount. Loan agreements should expressly exclude any unintended third-party rights, and charges must be correctly executed and registered. By putting these safeguards in place from the outset, lenders can move quickly to meet borrower demands while remaining confident that their position is fully protected, an area in which our firm has extensive experience for over 14 years.

Leaseholders’ protection under the Building Safety Act 2022 for non-cladding defects 

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The Building Safety Act (BSA) was introduced in 2022 following the Grenfell Fire in 2017. Aiming to improve fire safety in residential units, it introduced higher fire safety requirements for residential buildings that are at least 11 metres or 5 stories high (Relevant Buildings). 

Under the BSA, the concept of ‘qualifying leaseholder’ was created to protect some leaseholders from becoming liable to contribute significant remedial costs if non-cladding defects were found in Relevant Buildings. This applies to leaseholders who, as of 14 February 2022, used the property as their only or main home in Relevant Buildings and owned 3 or fewer residential properties in the UK. They must also have had a lease with a term of 21 years and were obliged to pay service charges under the provisions of the lease. 

Additionally, 3 further conditions must be met for those with a qualifying lease to be fully exempt from contributions towards remedial costs regarding non-cladding defects: (1) the landlord is legally responsible for the defects; (2) the average value of the Landlord’s properties is over £2,000,000; and (3) the property has a valuation of less than £325,000 if it is within London or £175,000 if it is located elsewhere in the UK. If any of these criteria is not met, then a partial exemption will apply, whereby one’s contribution will be statutorily limited to £10,000-£15,000 depending on whether the property is located inside or outside Greater London. 

Furthermore, one consideration often overlooked by inexperienced buyers is whether a lease is a ‘qualified lease’ as of 14 February 2022. This is because, even if all of the above criteria are met based on the circumstances at the time of the transaction, it is the original Leaseholder’s status and how the property was used before 14 February 2022 that decides whether a lease is a qualifying lease. For instance, borrowing an example from gov.uk, a lease would not be a qualifying lease if it were assigned from a seller who did not use the property as their main home before 14 February 2022 to a leaseholder who does after the assignment.

Overall, buyers must be careful when conducting due diligence on properties affected by the BSA. In such transactions, they should always aim to obtain a Leaseholder deed of certificate from the seller to demonstrate eligibility for protections against building safety costs under the BSA. If they do not qualify for protections under the BSA, tailored indemnity policies should be obtained to cover the risks of any financial liabilities that could arise under the Act if non-cladding defects were found on the property. 

Afghan Refugee Crisis – Failed Asylum seekers to make fresh application

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We wish to inform all existing and future Afghan asylum seeking Clients that the recent fall of Kabul to the hands of the Taliban has significantly impacted your cases.   This would also apply to your family members who are already in the UK, and in Afghanistan.

Many asylum cases have been refused by the Home Office and subsequent appeals dismissed or refused on the basis that Kabul was a safe place for asylum seekers to return to. 

Under the Immigration Rule 353, it may be possible to make further submissions.  The Home office will consider a fresh asylum claim where:

  1. There is a change of country conditions
  2. There is a change in a person’s personal circumstances or
  3. There is new evidence relating to the asylum claim already made.

The current situation in Afghanistan means that you can make a fresh asylum claim to meet the criteria mentioned as the current situation in Afghanistan shows that Afghanistan is no longer a safe place to return to.

Therefore, we request all such Afghan clients and potential Afghan Clients whose previous asylum claims were refused,  to contact us immediately so that we could advise on making a fresh application to the Home Office under the Immigration Rule 353.     We will also inform you of the criteria of the resettlement route in relation to your family members living in Afghanistan.

Appeal allowed for Appellants from Sri Lanka on compelling and compassionate circumstances outside the rules application which was initially refused by the SSHD.

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The Appellant and his wife are nationals of Sri Lanka both aged 70, who entered the UK to visit their daughter and family.  They had come to the UK on many occasions in the past and never breached immigration rules.    However, the First appellant’s health deteriorated after his last visit and was advised by the GP to seek Psychiatric help in a private clinic  whilst being in the UK,  The Appellant’s wife also had medical conditions and could no longer care for him on her own and were reliant on the Appellant; s daughter and family for emotional and physical support.  The

The Appellant’s daughter/sponsor and granddaughter gave evidence. An appellant bundle of over 250 pages were filed together with an Expert Psychological report of Dr Rozmin Halari together with Counsel’s skeleton argument.  

The appeal was allowed by the Immigration Judge who held that removal of the Appellants would be a breach of the right of respect to family life of the family. The Judge also considered the argument of the affect of the parent’s removal on the daughter’s own health in the UK and held that removal would have an impact.  The Judge held that the Appellant would not be able to access the additional psychological therapy as set out in the Consultant Psychiatrist report and thus removal from the UK would be disproportionate. 

The Appellants were represented by Ms Kiran Panesar of the Southall Office and Counsel Ms Rehana Popal of 33 Bedford Row Chambers.

Sriharans Solicitors relocate within City to a new office in Bank

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Sriharans are delighted to announce the relocation and upgrade of its City Office in Bank.

Our new office opened on 19th March 2021 and will continue Sriharans’ expansion into the corporate and commercial market.

The new City Office is located at 125 Old Broad Street, London (Bank), EC2N 1AR. The closest underground tube station is Bank however, Liverpool Street and Monument are also closeby. The area is well serviced by bus routes and our office is located within walking distance from tube or bus.

The new office will enable its team to offer a better service for existing and new clients in Central London and surrounding areas.

Commenting on the relocation and upgrade of the Firm’s new office, Partner Mr Sriharan said, “We are delighted that we continue to be accessible to clients in and around the central London area and are now located in an even bigger office for our clients in the heart of the City. We look forward to continuing the provision of our expert services in a sensitive and caring but also proactive and efficient manner for our clients, an ethos upon which we have built and maintained our 32 year long reputation”.

Our strength is in our staff and the diverse range of legal advice we are able to offer and it was important to us that the client base in Central London could access our full portfolio of services.

From Bridging Finance, Residential and Commercial Conveyancing to Family Law and Litigation; the Sriharans City Office will be home to a range of experienced lawyers in all the Firm’s specialised practice areas.

Our City Office is open from 9.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday.

For more information or to arrange a consultation at our Bank Office please call our team today on 020 3968 5570 or email info@sriharanssolicitors.co.uk.

We look forward to welcoming you to this Office.

Appeal allowed (FGM) for Appellant and her young daughter

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The Appellant is a Nigerian national, single mother of a young girl. She claimed asylum on the basis that she feared her family would subject her daughter to FGM as had happened to her and her sisters. Her asylum application was refused as the SSHD did not accept that her daughter would be subjected to FGM on return because it was not believed that her family threatened her. We appealed the decision. An Appellant bundle was filed with over 300 pages of evidence together with Counsel’s skeleton argument.

The hearing was held in private, and an all-female court and that the Appellant would be treated as a vulnerable witness due to her personal circumstances.

It was successfully argued and accepted by the Judge that the Appellant fell within the social group of parents of girls at risk of FGM and that there was a well founded fear of her family carrying out FGM against her will and that there was no sufficiency of protection for the Appellant and her daughter and also that it would be unduly harsh for the single mother and daughter to relocate, without family, support network, employment or protection elsewhere in Nigeria. The appeal was allowed on asylum grounds and on human rights grounds under Article 3 of the ECHR.

The Appellant was represented by Ms Kiran Panesar of the Southall Office and Counsel Ms Amanda Jones of Great James Street Chambers.

COVID-19 Update

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We at Sriharans Solicitors would like to reassure all our clients and contacts that we are and will remain committed to providing the best possible service at this difficult and challenging time.

Sriharans Solicitors have taken the necessary steps to comply with the Government guidelines on managing the risks of Covid-19. We continue to provide advice and assistance to our existing clients and new clients, which is line with Government guidelines.

We are operating from Monday to Friday from 09.30 to 5.30 pm. We can be contacted by phone or email. We offer face to face meetings also by pre-arranged appointments only in limited circumstances. When attending our offices, clients/visitors can be assured that office is cleaned and dis-infected on a regular basis and have hand sanitisers available in the reception throughout the office. All visitors are required to wash their hands using the hand sanitiser upon arrival and to check their temperature using the temperature scanner affixed to the wall at the reception. Facemasks are mandatory, whilst you are in our office. We provide complimentary high grade disposable face masks if you require. After visitors have left, the area is sanitised using anti-bacterial wipes. There is clear signage and communication in the office to maintain awareness to maintaining hygiene standards.

If you or any members of your family are displaying symptoms of Covid-19 virus, you should not attend the office. In these circumstances, you can call or email to discuss any matters safely. If needed video conferencing can be arranged.

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