A Shade Greener – shady solicitors Gary Anderson and Brian Fowler falling fowl of the law (Part 1)!

Introduction

Last week I wrote about solar panel installer A Shade Greener (ASG).

Their questionable tactics involved issuing 3 defamation claims against customers in the High Court, which they abandoned – and threatening many other customers with spurious litigation. The defamation claims were pursued against customers (including one pensioner for over £300,000), despite the fact the Daily Mail, Private Eye and the BBC had warned about A Shade Greener; with far more circulation than anything a few customers could cause to be published.

Often when I write about scandals, I get the odd comment or email – but in the case of A Shade Greener, I had an influx of messages from a large number of aggrieved customers, telling me I’d only skimmed the surface of this terrible terrible company.

Seemingly, the 3 (now abandoned) defamation claims are only the start of the barrage of legal threats and litigation that A Shade Greener has made – using some very dodgy tactics – and SLAPPs galore.

So, it’s time for a followup!

Gary Anderson – the SLAPPer Solicitor

Gary Anderson worked for A Shade Greener as its in-house solicitor, until seemingly, a Solicitors Regulatory Authority investigation into him. He is also apparently “General Counsel” for Indigo Lighthouse, whatever that is.

What did Gary do to get on the radar of the SRA you may be wondering?

Writing some of the most outrageous correspondence you have ever seen, is the short answer!

Back in November 2022 the SRA issued a warning about SLAPPs, which was updated in May 2024. It’s almost as if Anderson had read the warning as a guide on how to conduct litigation, as opposed to how not!

Having seen a large number of letters written by Anderson on behalf of A Shade Greener, the outrageous conduct includes;

• Suggesting that customers “guilty of both civil and criminal activity” (quote)
• Threatening proceedings where there is no merit in the claim
• Writing letters claiming customers are personally liable for “criminal acts” (his emphasis, not mine!)
• Making claims and assertions without merit
• Many many many other outrageous, but quite amusing things!

There are also some comedic quotes in his letters. For example, the opening line:

“This is a formal Letter Before Action written in accordance of with the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols….”

Another great (but absurd) quote being:

“On the criminal aspect of your behavior, we have reported your actions to other regulatory and enforcement bodies, including the Police.”

Ahhaahahahahaha ahhaahahahaha, I thought. The letters Anderson wrote are some of the most hilarious and outrageously comedically incompetent letters I have ever seen, they are comic gold. They are in total breach of any Pre-Action Protocol, fail to explain the legal basis on which “damages” are being sought, fail to identify any words complained of and/or their meanings, fail to explain or give an appreciation of the recipient of the letters any explanation of A Shade Greener’s position, and ….. so it goes on, and on, and on!

The letters are a textbook case of “how not to behave as a solicitor”, and how to entirely abuse the fact you may have once got a qualification in law, and are still blagging renewing a practicing certificate.

Then I realised two things;

Firstly, these were letters being sent to people with little or no legal knowledge or experience. They are extremely threatening letters, making threats of costs, damages and criminal liability – despite the fact they have no basis in law….but…despite the comic incompetence…..people could interpret the letters literally and believe they were true, and thus “guilty” of the criminal offence.

Secondly, for people without the ability to afford qualified legal advice/representation – this could have a profound affect on their mental health, resulting in depression or worse.

All of this outrageous behavior because some customers gave their honest opinions and experiences on A Shade Greener, who seem to be more dodgy by the minute….

All of Anderson’s conduct amounts to a SLAPP.

Conclusion on Anderson/Part 2

Well, it wasn’t long after this type or correspondence was sent to customers before the Solicitors Regulatory Authority became involved. What exactly is currently happening to Gary Anderson by the SRA is something I can’t publish – but it’s going to get very nasty, for him. He seemingly no longer works for A Shade Greener – although it is unclear if this was an intervention by the SRA, or if he quit/was fired.

After curtains for Gary Anderson, A Shade Greener’s Stewart Davies wasted no time in hiring solicitor Brian David Fowler….. Fowler is equally as incompetent as Gary Anderson, and hilariously found himself at the sticky end of legendary High Court Judge Master Fontaine…….

More about Brian David Fowler coming in Part 2!