Paul Josiah
Ford
Solicitor
039544
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Termination of suspension of PC/registration
Outcome date: 1 April 2024
Published date: 9 April 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Cheshire Law Associates (UK) Ltd
Address(es): 56 Market Street, Wirral, CH47 3BQ
Firm ID: 569010
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
The suspension, of Mr Paul Ford's practising certificate for 2023/2024, imposed following intervention, is terminated subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Ford is not a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Subject to condition 1, Mr Ford may act as a solicitor only as an employee and only where that employment has first been approved by the SRA.
- Mr Ford may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or a compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.
- Mr Ford does not hold or receive client money, or act as a signatory to any client or office account or have the power to authorise transfers from any client or office account.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest. They are reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations, and the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activities as contained in section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Decision - Closure
Outcome: Intervention
Outcome date: 22 December 2023
Published date: 22 December 2023
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Cheshire Law Associates (UK) Ltd
Address(es): 56 Market Street, Wirral, CH47 3BQ
Firm ID: 569010
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
To intervene into the practice of Paul Josiah Ford at Cheshire Law Associates (UK) Ltd.
Reasons/basis
- There is reason to suspect dishonesty by Mr Ford in connection with his practice as a solicitor (paragraph 1(1)(a)(i) of Schedule 1 – Part I to the Solicitors Act 1974).
- Mr Ford has failed to comply with rules (paragraph 1(1)(c) of Schedule 1– Part I to the Solicitors Act 1974).
Intervening agents
Sean Joyce of Stephensons LLP, Wigan Investment Centre, Waterside Drive, Wigan, Greater Manchester, WN3 5BA has been appointed as the intervening agent.
For enquiries please call 0333 321 4403 or email interventions@stephensons.co.uk