Disciplinary Record - Maria Antonia Goncalves De Sousa Cameira

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 25 May 2018

Published date: 28 June 2018

Firm details

No detail provided:

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

In the matter of Dr Maria Antonia Goncalves De Sousa Cameira, a person who is or was involved in legal practice, to make a section 43 order against Dr Cameira to take effect immediately that:

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 in connection with the business of that body;
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 Society permission.

Reasons/basis

Dr Maria Antonia Goncalves De Sousa Cameira was the sole director of Cameira Law Limited until August 2008. She was a Registered European Lawyer until October 2016.

On 18 October 2016 she was convicted at Snaresbrook Crown Court of the offence of Fraud by abuse of position. She was sentenced to six years imprisonment.

Dr Cameira absconded on the second day of her trial and is currently in Portugal. Extradition proceedings are ongoing.

As Dr Cameira 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 been convicted of a criminal offence which is such that in the opinion of the Society it would be undesirable for her to be involved in legal practice in any of the ways described in the order above.