A former project coordinator with international firm Eversheds tried to charge costs for a matter where the firm was working pro bono, the regulator has revealed.

According to a Solicitors Regulation Authority notice, Thomas Elliott created invoices on the firm’s system for a case that was not supposed to incur charges. As a non-solicitor he was made subject to an order preventing him from working in the legal profession without permission.

The firm had acted pro bono in 2023 for a footballer subject to disciplinary proceedings instigated by the local association. Elliott, who was secretary at the player’s club, had introduced the client to his firm.

Elliott created one invoice seeking payment of 50% of the legal costs ‘associated with the defence’ of the player, coming to almost £40,000. A second invoice was created two days later and brought the total claimed to around £96,000.

Following an internal investigation the firm interviewed Elliott where he denied creating the second invoice. He later admitted in writing that this information was factually inaccurate and resigned from the firm.

Elliott told the SRA he had been ‘hot-headed’ and was motivated by a strong reaction to what he saw as an injustice to how a young footballer had been treated by the authorities. He was not motivated by personal financial gain, and he told Eversheds that he wanted to help the firm to recover some costs. He made no money from his misconduct. He reiterated that his actions did not reflect his wider character or a dishonest motivation.

The SRA took this mitigation into account but ruled Elliott could not be involved in the profession.

It added: ‘Mr Elliott’s conduct makes it undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice because it demonstrates that he is capable to react impulsively and use information available to him without his employer’s knowledge to pursue his own agenda and mislead his employer when confronted in respect of his actions. A person willing to do this is not suitable to work in legal practice.’

Elliott agreed to pay £300 in costs.