Property tycoon Nicholas Hoogstraten is being sued by his former legal team for more than £400,000 in unpaid fees.

Legal newspaper The Lawyer said London-based Minaides Robson was claiming £409,076 from the businessman. The company has represented Mr Hoogstraten in his dispute with the family of murdered landlord Mohammed Sabir Raja.

Mr Hoogstraten has been through a succession of solicitors during the litigation and is now represented by Janes.

In 2002 the tycoon, who owns properties throughout Brighton and Hove, was convicted of the manslaughter of Mr Raja. The grandfather was shot and stabbed to death on his doorstep in 1999 by two men.

Mr Hoogstraten had been accused of sending the men to the house after Mr Raja sued him. He always protested his innocence and, after appointing Janes and new barristers, was cleared on appeal.

However, the Raja family had already been awarded £5 million damages in a civil claim and the High Court had frozen Mr Hoogstraten's assets.

The Lawyer said it was "unclear" if Mr Hoogstraten could pay Minaides Robson while the order remained in place.

Mr Hoogstraten and his lawyer at Janes, Robert Berg, were unavailable for comment. Minaides Robson declined to comment.