Disciplinary Record - Robert Weekes

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 15 January 2020

Published date: 16 January 2020

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Kennedys Management Services Limited

Address(es): 25 Fenchurch Avenue, London, EC3M 5AD

Firm ID: 535815

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

IN THE MATTER OF Robert Weekes

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

SECTION 43 SOLICITORS ACT 1974 (AS AMENDED)

The Facts

Between 21 June 2010 and 17 July 2017 Mr Weekes was employed by Kennedys Management Services Limited (KMSL) as an Office Services Assistant level 2. One of Mr Weekes’ responsibilities was the ordering of stationery. KMSL is owned by Kennedys Law LLP.

Mr Weekes worked in the company’s post room. He was dismissed in July 2017 for gross misconduct. This followed a finding that he had stolen property belonging to the company. An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was made in relation to Mr Weekes and he was ordered to pay the SRA's costs of £600 in investigating this matter.

Mr Weekes is not currently working at, or for, an SRA regulated practice.

FINDING

Mr Weekes conduct was dishonest. He is not a solicitor and was involved in a legal practice. He has occasioned or been a party to an act or default which involved such conduct on his part 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 Weekes 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 a Society permission.