Disciplinary Record - Russell Ford

Decision - Sanction

Outcome: Rebuke

Outcome date: 16 May 2022

Published date: 20 June 2022

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Owen White Limited

Address(es): Senate House, 62-70 Bath Road, Slough SL1 3SR

Firm ID: 573277

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Russell Lee Ford is a solicitor and director of Owen White Limited whose head office is at Senate House, 62-70 Bath Road, Slough SL1 3SR.

Mr Ford was supervising a junior solicitor. On 9 October 2020, the junior solicitor sent a draft consent order to settle ongoing litigation. This order included a clause requiring the withdrawal of all complaints about the firm to the SRA or any other body. By drafting and/or authorising the junior solicitor to include this clause in a consent order Mr Ford:

• Failed to effectively supervise the solicitor in breach of paragraph 3.5(b) of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct
• Failed to ensure the junior solicitor kept their professional knowledge and skills, as well as understanding their ethical and regulatory obligations up to date in breach of paragraph 3.6 of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct.
• Attempted to prevent an individual from making a complaint to the SRA or any other body in breach of paragraph 7.5 of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct and
• Did not act in way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors’ profession and in legal services provided by him in breach of Principle 2.

Mr Ford was issued with a written rebuke and ordered to pay costs of £600.