Disciplinary Record - Robin Jacobs

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 5 September 2024

Published date: 19 September 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: SinclairsLaw Limited

Address(es): Windsor Chambers, 36 Windsor Terrace, Penarth, CF64 1AB

Firm ID: 613838

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Mr Jacobs of HMP Littlehey. A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor.

Summary of decision

The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Mr Jacobs can work in an SRA regulated firm.

It was found that Mr Jacobs, who is not a solicitor, was involved in a legal practice and has been convicted of a criminal offence which is such that it is undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.

The facts of the case

Mr Jacobs is a non-authorised person. At the time of his criminal conviction he was employed as a barrister at SinclairsLaw Limited (the firm), a recognised body. Mr Jacobs is currently unemployed and in prison.

On 15 September 2022 he was found guilty of one count of rape under Section 92 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and sentenced to four years imprisonment. His appeal against his conviction was rejected by the Court of Appeal in December 2023.

Decision on outcome

An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Mr Jacobs' conduct meant that it was undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA's prior approval. The order pursuant to section 43 was made with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Mr Jacobs of this decision:

This was because of the serious nature of his criminal conviction, and the likely damage to public confidence in the delivery of legal services.

Mr Jacobs was also ordered to pay the SRA's costs of £650.

What our Section 43 order means

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.