The BBC has sought advice from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in the wake of comments made by Farrer & Co partner Julian Pike to the committee investigating phone-hacking at the News of the World.

The broadcaster confirmed to Legal Week that it has written to the SRA for advice in relation to Pike's evidence to the select committee last Wednesday (19 October) and a letter he sent to the BBC prior to a Panorama programme, 'Tabloid Hacks Exposed', which was aired in March this year.

During the Parliamentary committee hearing last week, Pike claimed that he had been aware that phone-hacking went beyond one "rogue reporter" – a reference to former royal editor Clive Goodman, who was sentenced to four months in jail in 2007 – but that he did not say anything at the time because of client obligations.

Pike told the committee that he had seen evidence in 2008 that made it "quite clear… that there was involvement of News of the World journalists other than Goodman."

However, according to The Guardian, Pike wrote a letter to the BBC this March, ahead of the broadcast of the Panorama programme, which stated that legal proceedings would be commenced if any suggestions were made "that any News International executive has made a statement knowing it to be misleading and/or untrue".

Following Pike's testimony last week, the BBC said in a statement: "The Panorama programme team were surprised to hear Mr Pike's testimony to the Culture Media and Sport Committee since, on the face of it, it seems to contradict one aspect of what he'd written in a letter to the programme, on News International's behalf, prior to the transmission of 'Tabloid Hacks Exposed' in March this year. As a result, we have written to the SRA today (21 October) seeking advice in relation to their rules."

The SRA refused to comment on the specifics of the situation, but said in a statement: "If a complaint was brought to us about anyone regulated by the SRA, we would of course investigate the complaint thoroughly."

Farrers declined to comment.

Pike advised News International on its phone-hacking case with Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor in 2008, which saw Taylor settle out of court for a six-figure sum.

The development follows the recent announcement that News Corporation has parted ways with Farrers and appointed Olswang to advise it on all civil claims relating to phone-hacking at the News of the World.