John
Szepietowski
Solicitor
020180
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
Outcome date: 23 January 2023
Published date: 27 March 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Eldons Berkeley Limited
Address(es): 7 Ely Place, London EC1N 6RY
Firm ID: 572779
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: Audley Chaucer Limited
Address(es): Bewley House, Park Road, Esher, Surrey KT10 8NP
Firm ID: 644223
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Reasons/basis
This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which will reach its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Solicitor. The Tribunal has certified that there is a case to answer in respect of allegations which are or include that :-
On or around 3 July 2017, Mr Szepietowski caused or permitted a payment to be deducted from the client account ledger for a client’s commercial conveyancing matter without the client’s authority.
The allegations are subject to a Hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven.
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 15 December 2023
Published date: 20 December 2023
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Eldons Berkeley Limited
Address(es): 7 Ely Place, London EC1N 6RY
Firm ID: 572779
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: Audley Chaucer Limited
Address(es): Bewley House, Park Road, Esher, Surrey KT10 8NP
Firm ID: 644223
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
John Szepietowski's practising certificate for 2022/2023 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Szepietowski is not to have sole responsibility for authorising client account payments or transfers.
- Mr Szepietowski is not to act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body, or head of legal practice (HOLP) or head of finance and administration (HOFA) in any authorised non-SRA firm.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above interim conditions are made under rule 3.2 of the SRA Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedure Rules, which states that at any stage an authorised decision maker may, pending a final decision by the SRA or the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, impose interim conditions on the practising certificate of a solicitor. We are satisfied that these conditions are necessary in the public interest or for the protection of the public.