Disciplinary Record - Antony Dines

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 29 May 2020

Published date: 19 June 2020

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Lyons Davidson Limited

Address(es): 43 Queen Street, Bristol, BS1 4QP

Firm ID: 573629

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

1. Agreed outcome

1.1 Mr Antony Dines, a former employee of a support services company of Lyons Davidson Limited, agrees to the following outcome to the investigation of his conduct by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA):

1. to the SRA making an order under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (a section 43 order) in relation to him that, from the date of this agreement:
   1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with his 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

   6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such body shall permit him to have an interest in the body

      except in accordance with the SRA's prior permission

2. to the publication of this agreement
3. he will pay the costs of the investigation of £300.

2. Summary of facts

2.1 From 1 April 2015 to 27 November 2017 Mr Antony Dines worked from the offices of Lyons Davidson (the firm) but was employed by its support services company (the service company).

2.2 On 6 December 2017 Mr Antony Dines was convicted upon his admission of four serious criminal offences.

2.3 Mr Antony Dines was sentenced to a community order and to carry out unpaid work of 200 hours.

2.4 Mr Antony Dines was also ordered to pay:

1. a surcharge to fund victim services of £85
2. costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

3. Admissions

3.1 Mr Antony Dines admits, and the SRA accepts, that his conviction for serious criminal offences means that it is undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice.

4. Why a section 43 order is appropriate

4.1 The SRA’s Enforcement Strategy and its guidance on how it regulates non-authorised persons, sets out its approach to using section 43 orders to control where a non-authorised person can work.

4.2 When considering whether a section 43 order is appropriate in this matter, the SRA has taken into account the admissions made by Mr Antony Dines.

4.3 The SRA and Mr Antony Dines agree that a section 43 order is appropriate because:

1. Mr Antony Dines is not a solicitor
2. Mr Antony Dines was undertaking work under the direction of a solicitor because he carried out his duties exclusively at the offices of the firm, and two of the directors of the service company were also solicitors and directors of the firm
3. he has been convicted of criminal offences which make it undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice.

4.4 It is undesirable for Mr Antony Dines to be involved in a legal practice because the seriousness of his criminal conduct would undermine public trust in the provision of legal services.

5. Publication

5.1 The SRA considers it appropriate that this agreement is published in the interests of transparency in the regulatory process. Mr Antony Dines agrees to the publication of this agreement.

6. Acting in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement

6.1 Mr Antony Dines agrees that he will not deny the admissions made in this agreement or act in any way which is inconsistent with it.

7. Costs

7.1 Mr Antony Dines agrees to pay the costs of the SRA's investigation in the sum of £300. Such costs are due within 28 days of a statement of costs due being issued by the SRA.