Disciplinary Record - Lalou Tifrit

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 26 September 2024

Published date: 15 May 2025

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Kingly Solicitors Limited

Address(es): 57 Lansdowne House, Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6ER

Firm ID: 633863

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: The Surprise Pub Company Limited

Address(es): 6 Christchurch Terrace, Chelsea, London, SW3 4AJ

Firm ID: 8012249

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this disciplinary decision relate to?

Lalou Tifrit, who is not a solicitor, was employed at Kingly Solicitors Limited whose head office was at 57 Lansdowne House, Berkeley Square, London W1J 6ER.

Summary of decision

Mr Tifrit was made subject to a disqualification order under section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.

The SRA has disqualified Mr Tifrit 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

Facts of the misconduct

It was found that:

Between 9 April 2019 and 23 July 2020, while employed at Kingly Solicitors Limited (the firm), Mr Tifrit caused or allowed client money to be improperly withdrawn from the firm's client accounts.

Insofar as the conduct took place prior to 25 November 2019, Mr Tifrit caused or substantially contributed to the firm's breach of:

• Principles 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 of the SRA Principles 2011
• Rules 1.2(b), 14.1 and 20.1 of the SRA Accounts Rules 2011.

Insofar as the conduct took place on or after 25 November 2019, Mr Tifrit caused or substantially contributed to the firm's breach of:

• Principles 2, 5 and 7 of the SRA Principles 2019
• Paragraph 5.2 of the Code of Conduct for Firms 2019 and
• Rules 2.4, 5.1, 5.2 and 6.1 of the SRA Accounts Rules 2019.

Decision on disqualification

Mr Tifrit's conduct breached relevant duties that applied to him as an employee of the firm. His conduct was serious, lacked integrity and resulted in a substantial shortfall in the firm's client account of over £10million as at August 2020.

It was found that it would be undesirable for Mr Tifrit 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 Tifrit was disqualified from holding any of these roles.

SRA Principles and Outcomes

SRA Principles 2011

Principle 2 You must act with integrity

Principle 4 You must act in the best interests of each client

Principle 6 You must behave in a way that maintains the trust the public places in you and in the provision of legal services

Principle 8 You must run your business or carry out your role in the business effectively and in accordance with proper governance and sound financial and risk management principles

Principle 10 You must protect client money and assets

SRA Accounts Rules 2011

Rule 1.2 (b) You must keep other people's money safely in a bank or building society account identifiable as a client account

Rule 14.1 Client money must without delay be paid into a client account, and must be held in a client account, except when the rules provide to the contrary

Rule 20.1 Client money may only be withdrawn from a client account when it is properly required

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

Principle 7 You act in the best interests of each client

SRA Code of Conduct for Firms 2019

Paragraph 5.2 You safeguard money and assets entrusted to you by clients and others

SRA Accounts Rules 2019

Rule 2.4 You ensure that client money is available on demand unless you agree an alternative arrangement in writing with the client, or the third party for whom the money is held

Rule 5.1 You only withdraw client money from a client account: (a) for the purpose for which it is being held; (b) following receipt of instructions from the client, or the third party for whom the money is held; or (c) on the SRA's prior written authorisation or in prescribed circumstances

Rule 5.2 You appropriately authorise and supervise all withdrawals made from a client account.

Rule 6.1 You correct any breaches of these rules promptly upon discovery. Any money improperly withheld or withdrawn from a client account must be immediately paid into the account or replaced as appropriate