Michelle MacRae

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)

Outcome date: 20 November 2023

Published date: 14 December 2023

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Barcan+Kirby LLP

Address(es): 111-117 Regent Street, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 8LJ

Firm ID: 568743

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Michelle MacRae whose last known address was in Fishponds, Bristol.

A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor.

Summary of decision

The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Michelle MacRae can work in an SRA regulated firm in any of the ways described in the order below.

The facts

On 1 April 2021, Ms MacRae was a passenger in a vehicle when it was involved in a road traffic accident. Both Ms MacRae and the driver of the vehicle had been drinking alcohol.

Ms MacRae misled the attending police officers by informing them that she was the driver. Several hours after the event, Ms MacRae admitted that this information was false.

In respect of the above, it was found that Ms MacRae acted dishonestly.

Ms MacRae's conduct occurred while she was employed by the recognised body, Barcan+Kirby LLP 111/117 Regent Street, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 8LJ, between 8 November 2017 and March 2022.

Our decision on outcome

An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Ms MacRae's conduct means that it is undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA's prior approval.

Michelle MacRae's conduct was serious because she lied to the police and was dishonest.

Ms MacRae was also ordered to pay a proportion of the SRA's costs of £600.

What our Section 43 order means

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 the SRA's prior written permission.