Disciplinary Record - Constantinos Avraamides

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 11 April 2024

Published date: 16 May 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Duncan Lewis Solicitors Ltd

Address(es): Sackville House, 143-149 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 6BL

Firm ID: 309586

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Constantinos Avraamides whose last known address was in Willesd en, London. A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor.

Summary of decision

The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Mr Avraamides can work in an SRA regulated firm. It was found that:

Mr Avraamides who is not a solicitor, was involved in a legal practice and has been convicted of a criminal offence which is such that it is undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.

The facts of the case

Mr Avraamides is a trainee solicitor at Duncan Lewis Solicitors Ltd (the firm), which is a recognised body.

On 20 December 2022, Mr Avraamides was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a summary trial. On 10 January 2023, he was sentenced to 150 hours unpaid work and to undergo a rehabilitation activity for 20 days. He was also made subject to a restraining order for a period of five years, preventing him from approaching or contacting his ex-partner, who was the victim of the assault.

Decision on outcome

An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Mr Avraamides' conduct meant that it was undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA's prior approval. The order pursuant to section 43 was made with effect 28 days from the date of the letter or email notifying Mr Avraamides of this decision.

Mr Avraamides' conduct was serious because he was convicted of a violent offence. He was responsible for his own conduct which had caused his former partner to suffer from harm.

The nature of the conviction makes it undesirable for him to be involved in legal practice without the SRA's permission. This is because anyone involved in the provision of legal services is in a position of trust and confidence. Mr Avraamides' conduct risks undermining that trust and confidence.

Mr Avraamides was also ordered to pay the SRA's costs of £600.

What our Section 43 order means

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; Page 11 of 11 Final Decision - Confidential
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 prior written permission.