Dominic Lowe

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 19 January 2024

Published date: 1 February 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Cook Taylor Woodhouse Limited

Address(es): 68/70 High Street, Eltham, London, SE9 1BZ

Firm ID: 606304

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Dominic Lowe who is employed by Cook Taylor Woodhouse Limited of Maidstone, Kent. Mr Lowe is not a solicitor.

Summary of decision

The SRA has imposed a section 43 order with immediate effect.

The facts of the case

On 22 September 2022, Mr Lowe altered a bank statement relating to an account in the name of X to make it appear that the account was in joint names of X and Y. In September 2022, Mr Lowe altered the firm's case management system on the file of Z, to make it appear that the purchase was in joint names of Z and his wife.

Decision on outcome

Mr Lowe's conduct was dishonest. There are some mitigation factors which have persuaded us not to disqualify Mr Lowe. These factors included him admitting his conduct and he did not personally benefit from it. We have decided it is undesirable for Mr Lowe to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA's prior written consent.

We have decided as follows:

To make a section 43 order that with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Mr Lowe of this decision:

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with his practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor's practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to be a manager of the body; and
6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him/her to have an interest in the body
except in accordance with the SRA's prior written permission.

Mr Lowe is ordered to pay the sum of £600 in relation to the SRA's costs of investigating this matter.