Disciplinary Record - Paul Green

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 11 April 2023

Published date: 27 April 2023

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: SSB Group Limited

Address(es): Navigation House, South Quay Drive, Sheffield, S2 5SU

Firm ID: 654321

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Summary of decision

The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Mr Green can work in an SRA regulated firm. It was found that on 17 November 2021 at 09.16 whilst employed at SSB Group Limited Mr Green fabricated an email by forwarding what was purported to have been an earlier sent email serving court document Precedent H on 9 November 2021 at 16.55. Mr Green was found to have been dishonest.

The facts of the case

Mr Green was a Litigation Assistant at SSB Group. On 17 November 2021 at 09.16 Mr Green, while engaged in litigation on behalf of a client, sent the text of an email to another firm of solicitors representing that it was a copy of one he had sent to the court on 9 November 2021 when he knew it was not. Mr Green admits what he has done. It is accepted on the particular facts of this case that he was under considerable stress at the time.

Our decision on outcome

An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Mr Green’s conduct meant that it was undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA’s prior approval.

This was because of the serious nature of his conduct in fabricating an email.

Mr Green was also ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £600.

What our Section 43 order means

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

except in accordance with the SRA's prior written permission.