David Anthony
Berens
Solicitor
138825
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 2 May 2024
Published date: 23 June 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Fuglers (in association with David Berens & Co)
Address(es): 70 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 4QG
Firm ID: 60342
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: Protopapas LLP
Address(es): Queens House, 180 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7PD
Firm ID: 649883
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
David Berens' practising certificate for 2023/2024 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Berens shall not act as a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Mr Berens may not 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.
- Mr Berens does not hold, receive, or have access to client money, or does not act as a signatory to any client or office account, or have the power to authorise electronic 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 - Prosecution
Outcome: Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal order
Outcome date: 9 March 2023
Published date: 15 March 2023
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Fuglers (In association with David Berens & Co) LLP
Address(es): 70 Charlotte Street, London NW1T 4QG
Firm ID: 441833
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: Protopapas LLP
Address(es): Queens House, 180 Tottenham Court Road, London NW1T 7PD
Firm ID: 649883
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 reaches its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Respondent. The Tribunal had certified that there was a case to answer.
On 9 March 2023 the SDT considered and approved an Agreed Outcome.
Mr Berens was fined £7,501 and was made subject to the following restrictions on his practice for an indefinite period:
- Mr Berens shall not act as a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Mr Berens may not 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.
- Mr Berens does not hold, receive, or have access to client money, or does not act as a signatory to any client or office account, or have the power to authorise electronic transfers from any client or office account.
The SDT judgment will be available at www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk