A trainee solicitor employed at a City firm until last year has been barred from working in the profession for creating a share certificate to replace a lost original. According to a decision notice published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, Louise Bolderstone, who is not a solicitor, was employed by Ropes & Gray International  from 17 August 2016 until 28 February 2018.

The notice states that, during her employment, Bolderstone printed a share certificate, traced the client’s signature onto it and sent it to a third party reporting it to be the original which had been lost. She also misled her colleague and a third party in relation to the share certificate.

Bolderstone was found to have been dishonest and to have breached Principle 2 (lack of integrity) and Principle 6 (you do not undermine the trust the public places in you and in the provision of legal services) of the SRA Principles 2011. 

She was made subject to a section 43 order barring her from employment by a solicitor or recognised body in connection with practice as a solicitor except with the regulator’s permission. She was also given a written rebuke, directed to pay a financial penalty of £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,600.