Trouble on the Books? Council Solicitor's Private Company in the Red...
- teessidetoday
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 17
Council solicitor’s private firm shows signs of financial collapse — raising fresh concerns over accountability and council officers running 'side ventures', whilst pocketing Tax Payer funds....
9th June 2025
Updated 14th June 2025
Hartlepool Borough Council's legal team may be doling out litigation against locals & struggling businesses — but one of their own is now facing serious questions over her side company’s financial viability.
GR Legal & Corporate Defence Ltd, owned by council solicitor Gemma Redfern, is said to be showing signs of significant financial distress, according to recent financial reports filed to Companies House.
Despite being reportedly registered with over £26,000 in listed assets, including £22,000 in stock, £2,200 in cash, and minor amounts in debtors and tangible assets, the firm's said to be saddled with £33,000 worth of creditors due within a single year. That means the company has a reported negative working capital of -£8,277 — a red flag for any trading business.
What does this mean?
In simple terms, GR Legal & Corporate Defence Ltd owes more than it owns. Its claimed that if all debts were called in tomorrow, the company could not meet its obligations — unless it found emergency funds or drastically liquidated assets. Even more concerning is the fact that its quick ratio (a key measure of how much ready cash it has to pay off debts) is a dismal 0.08. That means for every £1 owed, the company has just 8p in liquid resources.
This paints a worrying picture for a firm supposedly offering legal and “corporate defence” services. If the company’s viability depends on stock — whatever that may be in a legal services firm — then it raises even bigger questions about the nature and value of these assets.
A Public Servant, A Private Enterprise
Gemma Redfern is not just any business owner — she’s said to be employed as a solicitor by Hartlepool Borough Council, a local council already under the microscope for questionable financial decisions, secret property deals, and mismanagement of public assets. Now, it seems one of their own is juggling a side business that’s financially underwater.
Why is a council-employed solicitor operating a company with such glaring liabilities? Is it being actively traded? Is there a conflict of interest between her council work and the services provided by her company?
At a time when Hartlepool residents are facing rising council tax bills, housing shortages, and service cuts, it’s only fair to ask: What oversight exists when council staff run private companies on the side — and what happens when those companies fail?
This isn't the first time concerns have been raised about dual roles within Hartlepool Borough Council. Whether it's Council Tax officers with business interests or councilors voting on matters linked to their own companies, it seems the line between public service and private profit seems to be getting blurrier by the day.
If GR Legal & Corporate Defence Ltd goes under, will any of its liabilities then fall on local institutions?
Are any of those contracts in place between the company and the council?
Perhaps so from what HBC Exposed has seen !
(Update 14th June 2025)
Following the publication of our report on the 9th June 2025, Ms Redfern then promptly removed her LinkedIn social media page from the public domain....
