Disciplinary Record - Jordan Heeley

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 17 December 2024

Published date: 10 January 2025

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: O’Neill Patient Solicitors LLP

Address(es): Floors 2 and 32 Stockport Exchange, Railway Road, STOCKPORT, SK1 3GG

Firm ID: 449172

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Summary of decision

The SRA has disqualified Mr Heeley from holding any of the following roles in law firms regulated by the SRA:

• Head of Legal Practice
• Head of Finance and Administration
• A manager
• An employee

Reasons/basis

The facts of the case

Mr Heeley, who is not a solicitor, was employed as a case manager in the conveyancing remortgage department at O'Neill Patient Solicitors LLP of 2 Stockport Exchange, Cheshire, a licensed body.

In April 2021 the police carried out a search of a property in Macclesfield where Mr Heeley resided. Mr Heeley was present at the address at the time of the search with his co-defendant, where items related to the use and sale of illegal drugs were found. The police investigation concluded that Mr Heeley supplied or arranged to supply drugs for profit.

Mr Heeley pleaded guilty and was convicted at Crewe Magistrates' Court on 10 March 2023 for the offences of

1. being concerned in the supply of cocaine contrary to s4(3)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; and
2. concealing, disguising, converting, transferring, or removing criminal property, contrary to Section 327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

On 5 May 2023, he was sentenced at Chester Crown Court to 28 months imprisonment. No separate penalty was issued in respect of the second offence.

Our decision on sanction

Mr Heeley's conduct breached relevant duties that applied to him as an employee of a licensed body, namely Principles 2 and 5 of the SRA Principles 2019.

It was found that it would be undesirable for him to act as a head of legal practice, head of finance and administration, a manager or an employee of a body licensed in accordance with section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.

Mr Heeley was disqualified from holding any of these roles.

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

SRA Principles 2019

Principle 2: You act in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons. Principle 5: You act with integrity.