A former employee of international firm Hogan Lovells has been banned from working in the legal profession after avoiding fares on the London transport network.
Aaron Jamieson, who worked as a billing coordinator in the firm’s London office, admitted to his firm last September that he had been investigated by Transport for London for using a travel card that did not belong to him. It had been found that from April to June 2022, he made 131 journeys and underpaid on fares by more than £300.
He also admitted to having misused a travel card before, when he had pleaded guilty in September 2020 at Wimbledon Magistrates Court to not holding a valid ticket. He had been ordered to pay £330 in fines, costs and a victim surcharge.
Hogan Lovells then initiated its own investigation and Jamieson handed his notice in soon after. He was immediately reported to the SRA and the firm told him he was dismissed on the grounds of serious misconduct.
In December at Lavender Magistrates Court, Jamieson pleaded guilty to not holding a valid ticket for journeys from April to June 2022, and this time he was ordered to pay £544.
An SRA notice stated that Jamieson had knowingly made repeated journeys using someone else’s travelcard, which led to his two convictions. In his mitigation, he described that the pandemic had an adverse financial impact on him and his family.
At his firm, Jamieson had been required to update and maintain the firm’s online portal so bills could be sent to clients, and to coordinate the financial affairs of all offices.
The SRA said: ‘Mr Jamieson’s role, involving the billing of clients and dealing with the financial affairs of the firm, expected him to act with honesty and integrity. His conduct resulting in two convictions, the most recent in December 2022, presents an ongoing risk that he does not demonstrate those ethical behaviours.’
He was handed a section 43 notice preventing him from working for any regulated firm and ordered to pay £300 costs.
