Disciplinary Record - Joshua Brien

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Approval of employment (section 43)

Outcome date: 15 July 2022

Published date: 28 July 2022

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Cooley (UK) LLP

Address(es): 22 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4BQ

Firm ID: 617791

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

In the matter of: Joshua Alexander Brien

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

The facts

Mr Brien was registered by the SRA as a foreign lawyer between February 2018 until April 2021. He was employed as an associate at Cooley (UK) LLP from July 2017 to November 2019 whose offices are at 22 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4BQ.

On 26 August 2021, Mr Brien was convicted at Southwark Crown Court of the following offences:

a. 'Fraud by abuse of position x 3', and

b. 'Dishonestly make false representation to make gain for self/another or cause loss to other/expose other to risk x1'.

Mr Brien was sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence of seven years and six months imprisonment.

Finding

Mr Brien, 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.

ORDER

To make an order pursuant to section 43 that with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Mr Brien 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 prior written permission.

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