Disciplinary Record - Alan Edwards

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)

Outcome date: 19 July 2021

Published date: 26 August 2021

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Emerald Law Solicitors Ltd

Address(es): Suite 419, The Cotton Exchange, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9LQ

Firm ID: 615452

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

IN THE MATTER OF:

Alan Edwards of Flint Mountain, Flintshire, North Wales.

A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor

Reasons/basis

THE FACTS

Mr Edwards was employed as a litigation executive by Emerald Law Solicitors Ltd at Suite 419, The Cotton Exchange, Old Hall Street Liverpool L3 9LQ. The firm is a recognised body.

It was found that between September 2017 and February 2019, while representing two minors in their personal injury claims:

1. without permission, Mr Edwards changed the edition of the Judicial Guidelines and the date of Counsel’s Advice on Quantum (AOQ) for one of the minors which was used in an infant approval hearing.
2. Mr Edwards created new AOQs using the contents of Counsel’s AOQs and the name of the firm’s manager, without authorisation.
3. Mr Edwards failed to take reasonable steps to rectify the payment of one of his client’s settlement money which had been paid to another instead of into court.
4. Mr Edwards made false statements about the payment of the settlement money to the court and to the defendant’s solicitors.

FINDING

Mr Edwards was found to have breached Principles 2, 4 and 6 of the SRA Principles 2011.

Mr Edwards was found to have acted dishonestly in respect of the conduct referred to in paragraphs a, b and d above.

Alan Edwards, who is not a solicitor, was involved in a legal practice and has occasioned or been a party to an act or default which involved such conduct on his part that it is undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.

ORDER

To make an order pursuant to section 43 that with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Mr Edwards of Flint Mountain, Flintshire North Wales of this decision:

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor's practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to be a manager of the body; and
6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to have an interest in the body.

except in accordance with the SRA’s permission.

Mr Edwards was directed to pay a financial penalty of £1,000 and costs of £600.