Table of contents
Overview
Three Crowns is a trading name used internationally by the law firm. The legal entities which engage with clients are Three Crowns (Services) LLP, which trades from offices in London and Paris; Three Crowns (US) LLP, which trades from Washington, DC, Three Crowns (Services) Pte. Ltd., which trades from Singapore, and Three Crowns (Spain) SLP, which trades from Madrid.
The use of the word “partner” in connection with the Three Crowns trading name denotes a member of Three Crowns (Services) LLP, a general partner of Three Crowns (US) LLP, Three Crowns (Services) Pte. Ltd, or Three Crowns (Spain) SLP, or a consultant or employee of one of them with equivalent standing and qualifications. The use of the term “partner” should not be construed as meaning that any form of partnership exists between the separate entities.
London & Paris Offices
Three Crowns (Services) LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales with registered number OC389628. The LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and is registered with the Paris Bar under Directive 98/5/CE. A list of members of the LLP is available for inspection at the LLP’s registered address at New Fetter Place, 8-10 New Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1AZ, United Kingdom or from the Paris branch office at 104 avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris, France.
The Paris branch office is regulated by the Ordre des Avocats à la Cour de Paris and comprises Avocats and other lawyers from other jurisdictions who are members of other Bars. The rules and principles applicable to the professional conduct of Avocats can be obtained on the Ordre des Avocats website (www.avocatparis.org) or by contacting either the Direction de l’Exercise Professionel (+33 1 44 32 47 76) or the Direction des Affaires Europeennes et Internationales (+33 1 44 32 47 77). Avocats registered with the Ordre des Avocats are covered by an insurance policy provided by the Bar, details of which can be supplied by the Bureau des Assurances (+33 1 44 88 59 84).
Singapore Offices
Three Crowns (Services) Pte. Ltd. (UEN No. 202134827K) is a private limited company registered in Singapore and a licensed foreign law practice regulated by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority of Singapore. The registered address of Three Crowns (Services) Pte. Ltd. is at 6 Battery Road #30-01, Singapore 049909.
Washington, DC Office
Three Crowns (Services) Pte. Ltd. (UEN No. 202134827K) is a private limited company registered in Singapore and a licensed foreign law practice regulated by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority of Singapore. The registered address of Three Crowns (Services) Pte. Ltd. is at 6 Battery Road #30-01, Singapore 049909.
Madrid Office
Three Crowns (Spain) SLP is a Spanish professional limited liability company registered in Spain at the Companies Registry of Madrid, Volume 44467, Page 100 and Sheet M-783506, and with Tax Identification Number (NIF) B72716624, and is authorised and regulated by the Madrid Bar Association. The registered address of Three Crowns (Madrid) SLP is 3ª Planta Modulo B, C. de Miguel Ángel, 11, 28010, Madrid, Spain.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
In accordance with the disclosure requirements of the Provision of Services Regulations 2009, our primary layer professional indemnity insurer is AIG Europe Limited, the AIG Building, 58 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4AB. Our insurance, which also includes a number of excess layers above the primary, covers our services globally and extends to acts and omissions wherever they occur in the world.
In certain jurisdictions additional indemnity insurance is required to be placed locally in accordance with law or regulation. Where there are such requirements, we have policies in place to meet these obligations, details of which can be supplied on request.
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
Some investment-related activities (including insurance distribution activities) of Three Crowns (Services) LLP are regulated under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom (FSMA).
Like most law firms, we are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under FSMA. Instead, we are authorised and regulated by the SRA. The Law Society is a designated professional body for the purposes of FSMA, but responsibility for regulation and complaints handling has been separated from the Law Society’s representative functions. The SRA is the independent regulatory body of the Law Society and the Legal Ombudsman deals with complaints about lawyers registered in England & Wales. In the light of this, we can provide investment-related services (including insurance distribution activities) if they are (i) an incidental part of the professional services we have been engaged to provide (ii) if they can reasonably be regarded as a necessary part of our professional services; or (iii) if we are otherwise permitted to provide them under FSMA. For the purpose of insurance distribution activities (broadly, advising on, selling, and the administration of insurance contracts), we are included on a register maintained by the FCA and are permitted by the FCA to carry on insurance distribution activities. This register can be accessed via the FCA website at www.fca.org.uk/register.
Anti-money Laundering
We may require clients to provide documents and information concerning the contracting client entity and related persons, entities, or affiliates as set out, in order to comply with relevant anti-money laundering laws and regulations. We may be prevented from carrying out your instructions if we are unable to meet our requirements, which often include verifying the identities of your ultimate beneficial owners.
We may be required by law or regulation to report to a governmental or regulatory authority our knowledge and/or suspicion that certain criminal offences have been committed, regardless of whether such an offence has been committed by a client of ours or by a third party. We may not be able to discuss such reports with you because of restrictions imposed by those laws and regulations, and we may have to cease acting for you in those circumstances. You agree that we are not responsible for any adverse consequences you may suffer as a result of our compliance with such laws and regulations, whether caused by our inactivity or otherwise.
Anti-bribery and Corruption
Our policy is to act at all times in accordance with the highest professional, ethical, and business standards, and we expect the same from our clients and their related persons, entities, or affiliates. We have a zero tolerance approach to bribery or corruption and you agree not to expect or request any conduct from us that might bring our name into disrepute or compromise our integrity and independence and that you or your related persons, entities, or affiliates will refrain from any practices involving bribery or any other corrupt activities.
Client Audit Requests
If we are required by any governmental or regulatory body, or by your auditing accountants or any other service provider appointed by you, to produce documents or provide information on any engagement, we shall be entitled to bill you for the work involved (and any disbursements or expenses incurred) at the rates agreed for the relevant matter.
In response to any request to provide information to your auditors, our policy is to comply with the laws and regulations applicable to us and in particular with the guidance from the Law Society of England & Wales and with the American Bar Association Statement of Policy Regarding Lawyers’ Responses to Auditors’ Requests for Information.
Interest on Client Account Balances
It is our policy to account to our clients for interest on a fair and reasonable basis. In particular:
- Client monies will be deposited in the appropriate currency denominated Client Account.
- Client monies will be held in an instant access account. Interest will normally be calculated by reference to the bank’s rates of interest for such accounts available to Three Crowns.
- If the total amount of interest calculated over the course of the transaction is less than £250; no payment of interest will be paid, unless in the Firm’s sole discretion it chooses to do so, for example where the beneficiary of such accrued interest is a charity.
- It is unlikely that a client will receive as much interest as might have been obtained had the funds been invested by the client itself.
Managing Complaints
If you wish to make a complaint about us, in the first instance, please contact the person with whom you are working or corresponding to set out your concerns. We will confirm our complaints handling procedure in writing. If for any reason we are unable to resolve the issue having invoked our procedures, we will discuss with you the options available to take the matter further. Clients are referred to our Terms of Business, which provide for you or us to refer the dispute for final determination to arbitration.
London
If you have instructed the London office of Three Crowns (Services) LLP, you may be able to ask the Legal Ombudsman to consider the issue (write to: PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ; or email; or phone 0300 555 0333). If you wish to refer a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman, it should be done within six months of our final response to your complaint and within six years of the act or omission that caused the complaint or, if outside this period, within three years of when you should reasonably have known about the relevant act or omission.
The Legal Ombudsman may refer your complaint to the SRA, as the Legal Ombudsman’s services are only available for certain types of complaints and complainants. For full details, click here and here.
Note also that if you are a client and your complaint is about our invoices, you may also apply to the court for an assessment of the bill under Part III of the Solicitors’ Act 1974. If all or part of any bill remains unpaid, we may be entitled to charge interest.
Paris
If you have instructed the Paris Office of Three Crowns (Services) LLP, the dispute may be capable of resolution according to the procedure provided for in articles 174 et seq. of Décret n°91-1197 du 27 Novembre 1991 organisant la profession d’avocat and the matter shall be referred to the Bâtonnier (President) of the Paris Bar.
Singapore
If you have instructed our Singapore office, you may be able to lodge a complaint with the Law Society of Singapore.
Washington, DC
If you have instructed Three Crowns (US) LLP, you may be able to complain to the DC Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility.
Madrid
If you have instructed Three Crowns (Spain) SLP, you may be able to complain to the Madrid Bar Association.
Equality and Diversity
Three Crowns (Services) LLP complies with its obligations under the SRA Handbook 2019 to collect and report on equality and diversity data relating to its staff and others at the Firm. If you wish to receive a copy of our anonymised Equality and Diversity information, please contact Vikki Van Graan, Office Manager: [email protected].