Disciplinary Record - Katie Michell

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 24 August 2021

Published date: 3 November 2021

Firm details

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

Name: DAC Beachcroft LLP

Address(es): Sovereign House, Imperial Way, Newport, NP10 8UH

Firm ID: 440774

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Reasons/basis

IN THE MATTER OF

Katie Michell a person who is or was involved in legal practice but is not a solicitor.

FACTS

Katie Michell was employed as a paralegal by DAC Beachcroft LLP at Sovereign House, Imperial Way, Newport NP10 8UH between 17 December 2014 and December 2019.

In 2018 Ms Michell misled insurer clients, policyholders, claimants’ solicitors, and her firm when dealing with two road traffic accident claims. She failed to provide a proper standard of service to her clients. It was found that Katie Michell had acted dishonestly.

FINDINGS

I find that Katie Michell is or was involved in a legal practice (as defined by section 43 (1A) of the Solicitors Act 1974) but is not a solicitor and has occasioned or been a party to, with or without the connivance of a solicitor, an act or default in relation to a legal practice which involved conduct on her part of such a nature that in the opinion of the Society it would be undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways set out in the order below.

ORDER

To make a section 43 order that with immediate effect:

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the solicitor’s practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate her;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to be a manager of the body; and
6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to have an interest in the body except in accordance with the SRA’s permission.