A head of litigation at a London firm who misled his client that he had instructed a medical expert, when he had not, has been banned from working in legal practice without Solicitors Regulation Authority approval. Neil Brown, whose last known address was in Romford, Essex, had been working at the firm since January 2018, the SRA said.
During January 2022 to November that year, while acting for a client, Brown misled his client that he had instructed a medical expert and obtained a medical report, when he had not, the regulator found.
In a ruling published this week, the SRA said: ‘Mr Brown’s conduct meant that it was undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA’s prior approval. Mr Brown’s conduct was serious because it involved dishonesty and such behaviour risks affecting public trust and confidence in the profession.’
The SRA put restrictions on where and how Brown, who is not a solicitor, can work in an SRA regulated firm, through an order imposed under section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974.
Except with the SRA’s prior written permission, no solicitor shall employ or remunerate Brown in connection with their practice, no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor’s practice and no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him.
Permission from the SRA is also required if any manager or employee of a recognised body wanted to employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body; permit him to be a manager of the body or have an interest in the body.
Brown was also ordered to pay a proportion of the SRA’s costs of £600.
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