A solicitor is under investigation after regulators found at least £530,000 missing in cases he conducted.

Marcus Nickson photo Marcus Nickson Officials added they had identified “several inappropriate payments out of trust funds” of which Marcus Nickson was a trustee.

Mr Nickson was a partner at the now-closed KJ Commons & Co, which had offices in Carlisle and west Cumbria.

He has specialised in clinical negligence and acted as a trustee of damages settlements awarded to disabled clients.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) said it was investigating.

He has also had a string of conditions placed on how he can work.

A statement issued by the SRA said: “Mr Nickson was a partner at K J Commons & Co from 1992 to June 2010 and a director of K J Commons & Co Limited between October 1 2010 and December 17 2012.

“He specialised in clinical negligence and catastrophic injury. He also acted as a professional trustee of damages settlements awarded to disabled clients.

“The SRA has identified a minimum shortage of approximately £537,000 on matters that were conducted by Mr Nickson between 1999 and November 2012.

“They have also identified several inappropriate payments out of trust funds of which he was a trustee. These matters are currently under investigation by the SRA.”

Mr Nickson was told he should not accept any new appointments as a trustee.

Another condition states: “Mr Nickson shall not hold, receive or have access to client money or act as a signatory to any client or office account, or have the power to authorise payments in or out of any client or office account or any transfers from any client or office account.”

The News & Star contacted Mr Nickson but he declined to comment.

Mr Nickson has worked on a number of high-profile Cumbrian cases. These include a man from Bigrigg left with kidney failure after he ate a contaminated burger on holiday. He won £750,000 compensation.