Disciplinary Record - Vershna Patel

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Approval of employment (section 41)

Outcome date: 6 April 2020

Published date: 7 April 2020

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Moore Blatch LLP & Eric Robinson Solicitors

Address(es): Gateway House, Tollgate, Chandler's Ford, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh Hampshire, SO53 3TG & Vanbrugh House, Burlington House, Grange Drive, Grange Drive, Hedge End, Southampton, Hampshire, SO30 2AF

Firm ID: 487618 & 54381

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

IN THE MATTER OF

Vershna Patel (also known as Vee Patel) a person who is or was involved in legal practice but is not a solicitor.

FACTS

Vershna Patel worked for Moore Blatch LLP at Gateway House, Tollgate Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh SO53 3TG from 15 May 2017 until her resignation on 15 April 2018. While at the firm she was found to have used money belonging to one client for another client without consent. She also made misleading statements to her employers to cover up the use of the money. This was a breach of SRA Principles 2, 4, 6 and 10 and Rules 1.2 (c) and 20.1 (f) of the SRA Accounts Rules. She was also found to be dishonest.

Vershna Patel worked at Eric Robinson Solicitors at 6-8 Brownhill Road Chandlers Ford Eastleigh SO53 2EA from 10 May 2018 until her resignation on 29 March 2019. While at the firm she falsified documents and letters which she later used to make an application to the SRA to be admitted to the Roll. She was found to have breached SRA Principles 2 and 6 and to be dishonest.

Vershna Patel is not currently working.

FINDINGS

I find that Vershna Patel (also known as Vee Patel) 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 occasioned or been a party to, with or without the connivance of a solicitor, an act or default in relation to a legal practice which involved conduct on her part of such a nature that in the opinion of the Society it would be undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways set out in the order below.

ORDER

To make a section 43 order that with immediate effect:

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;
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 an SRA permission.

Reasons/basis

Vershna Patel (also known as Vee Patel) worked for Moore Blatch LLP at Gateway House, Tollgate Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh SO53 3TG from 15 May 2017 until her resignation on 15 April 2018. While at the firm she was found to have used money belonging to one client for another client without consent. She also made misleading statements to her employers to cover up the use of the money. This was a breach of SRA Principles 2, 4, 6 and 10 and Rules 1.2 (c) and 20.1 (f) of the SRA Accounts Rules. She was also found to be dishonest.

Vershna Patel (also known as Vee Patel) worked at Eric Robinson Solicitors at 6-8 Brownhill Road Chandlers Ford Eastleigh SO53 2EA from 10 May 2018 until her resignation on 29 March 2019. While at the firm she falsified documents and letters which she later used to make an application to the SRA to be admitted to the Roll. She was found to have breached SRA Principles 2 and 6 and to be dishonest.

A section 43 order was imposed against her and she was ordered to pay a financial penalty of £2,000 and costs of £1,350.