The SDT ordered that the respondent be suspended for six months from 25 April 2025, after which he would be subject to a restriction order for three years, during which he might not hold COLP, COFA, manager or owner roles.

While in practice as a solicitor at QC Law Ltd/Queens Court Law, between 12 July 2022 and 6 October 2022, the respondent had acted for client B in relation to a financial dispute against an existing client (client A) of the firm, thereby acting in circumstances which gave rise to a conflict of interest or a significant risk of such a conflict of interest. By doing so, he had breached principles 2 and 5 of the SRA Principles 2019 and paragraph 6.2 of the Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLS 2019. He had acted recklessly.

Between 12 July 2022 and 27 October 2022, in his capacity as COLP at the firm, the respondent had failed to ensure the firm’s compliance with the SRA’s regulatory arrangements by recklessly acting in circumstances which had given rise to a conflict of interest or a significant risk of such a conflict of interest, and by failing to report that conduct to the SRA, thereby breaching principles 2 and 5, and paragraph 9.1 of the Code of Conduct for Firms.

The respondent had admitted a lack of integrity. There could be no doubt that his culpability was high and that his actions had had the potential to directly harm the reputation of the legal profession. While his mitigation was noted, he had been reckless in not satisfying himself that all was in order. https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/sdt-and-sra-interventions/decisions-and-interventions/5124132.article?_gl=1*1mzuhnm*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTY5NDExNDU2OC4xNzU0NDkxNTE4*_ga_T9B48VKB23*czE3NTQ0OTE1MTckbzEkZzEkdDE3NTQ0OTE2NzQkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_M6CW48FCF6*czE3NTQ0OTE1MTckbzEkZzEkdDE3NTQ0OTE2NzQkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_LPF4PE6ZB2*czE3NTQ0OTE1MTckbzEkZzEkdDE3NTQ0OTE2NzQkajYwJGwwJGg2ODAwMjUwODA.*_ga_54TJ9VJQYR*czE3NTQ0OTE1MTckbzEkZzEkdDE3NTQ0OTE2NzQkajYwJGwwJGgw*_ga_VTZWF13LJ0*czE3NTQ0OTE1MTckbzEkZzEkdDE3NTQ0OTE2NzQkajYwJGwwJGgw