Disciplinary Record - Gillian Walker

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Approval of employment (section 43)

Outcome date: 14 January 2022

Published date: 17 February 2022

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: EQUILAW LIMITED

Address(es): Montpellier Court, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, GLOUCESTER, GL3 4AH

Firm ID: 525526

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Equilaw Limited have been granted permission under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 to employ Gillian Walker, subject to the following conditions:

1. Mrs Walker is supervised by Claire Barker.
2. Mrs Walker’s employment at Equilaw Limited is limited to that as described in the application form dated 11 January 2021.
3. Mrs Walker shall not have any responsibility for or be involved in the training or supervision of any other employee at Equilaw Limited.
4. The supervision arrangements and job description as outlined in conditions 1. 2. And 3. above may not be varied without our prior written approval.
5. Mrs Walker does not have access to any office or client account, is not a signatory to any office or client account and does not have any responsibility for the firm’s accounting functions.
6. This approval will lapse if Mrs Walker’s employment with the firm is terminated.
7. This approval and the conditions attached to it are subject to review at the absolute discretion of the SRA.

Reasons/basis

Gillian Walker was made subject to an order under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 on 17 December 2020. In accordance with section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974, any solicitor wishing to employ or remunerate her in connection with their practise as a solicitor must obtain the SRA’s approval. The SRA is satisfied that the above employment will not put public confidence in the administration of justice and the provision of legal services or the interests of clients at risk.

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Approval of employment (section 43)

Outcome date: 26 April 2021

Published date: 27 May 2021

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: EQUILAW LIMITED

Address(es): Montpellier Court Gloucester Business Park Brockworth GLOUCESTER GL3 4AH

Firm ID: 525526

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Equilaw Limited have been granted permission under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 to employ Gillian Walker, subject to the following conditions:

1. Mrs Walker is supervised by Ailsa Roberts.
2. Mrs Walker’s employment at Equilaw Limited is limited to that as described in the application form dated 11 January 2021.
3. Mrs Walker shall not have any responsibility for or be involved in the training or supervision of any other employee at Equilaw Limited.
4. The supervision arrangements and job description as outlined in conditions 1. 2. and 3. above may not be varied without our prior written approval.
5. Mrs Walker does not have access to any office or client account, is not a signatory to any office or client account and does not have any responsibility for the firm’s accounting functions.
6. This approval will lapse if Mrs Walker’s employment with the firm is terminated.
7. This approval and the conditions attached to it are subject to review at the absolute discretion of the SRA.

For definitions, please refer to the defined terms set out in the SRA Glossary.

Reasons/basis

Gillian Walker was made subject to an order under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 on 17 December 2020. In accordance with section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974, any solicitor wishing to employ or remunerate her in connection with their practise as a solicitor must obtain the SRA’s approval. The SRA is satisfied that the above employment will not put public confidence in the administration of justice and the provision of legal services or the interests of clients at risk.

Decision - Prosecution

Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Outcome date: 4 June 2018

Published date: 5 August 2020

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Opes Law Limited

Address(es): Tanner Business Centre, Unit 314, Waterside Mill, Chew Valley Road, Oldham, Lancashire OL3 7PF

Firm ID: 619889

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Reasons/basis

Outcome of SDT Hearing

This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which reaches its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Respondent. The Tribunal had certified that there was a case to answer.

The matter was heard on 15-17 December 2020.

The Tribunal ordered that, as from 17 December 2020, except in accordance with Law Society permission:

• No solicitor shall employ or remunerate, in connection with his practice as a solicitor Gillian Walker;
• No employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate, in connection with the solicitor’s practice the said Gillian Walker;
• No recognised body shall employ or remunerate the said  Gillian Walker;
• No manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate the said Gillian Walker in connection with the business of that body;
• No recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit the said Gillian Walker to be a manager of the body;
• No recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit the said Gillian Walker to have an interest in the body.

The SDT judgment will be available at  www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk.