Anthony
Gale
Solicitor
145183
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal order
Outcome date: 10 October 2022
Published date: 19 October 2022
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Ison Harrison Limited
Address(es): Duke House, 54 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 2EE
Firm ID: 584936
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 10 October 2022 the SDT considered and approved an Agreed Outcome.
Mr Gale was suspended from practice as a solicitor for a period of 12 months to commence on 10 October 2022.
Upon expiry of the fixed term of suspension referred to above Mr Gale shall be subject to conditions imposed by the Tribunal for an indefinite period of time as follows:
He may not:
1.1 Practise as a sole practitioner or sole manager or sole owner of an authorised or recognised body; or as a freelance solicitor; or as a solicitor in an unregulated organisation.
1.2 Be a partner or member of a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), Legal Disciplinary Practice (LDP) or Alternative Business Structure (ABS) or other authorised or recognised body.
1.3 Be a Head of Legal Practice/Compliance Officer for Legal Practice or a Head of Finance and Administration/Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration.
1.4 Hold client money.
1.5 Be a signatory on any client account.
1.6 Work as a solicitor other than in employment approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd, and such approval not to be given until the Respondent has demonstrated to the SRA satisfactory completion of courses or further training in the following areas:
- 1.6.1 Know your client.
- 1.6.2 Risks of fraud in conveyancing transactions.
- 1.6.3 Conflicts.
- 1.6.4 Accepting instructions from vulnerable clients.
The SDT judgment will be available at www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk
Other information
Also relevant firm: Lofthouse & Co (SRA ID 074867)
16 Wesley Street, Castleford WF10 1AE
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 15 February 2022
Published date: 22 March 2022
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Maurice Smiths
Address(es): Bradley Street, CASTLEFORD WF10 1HP
Firm ID: 55484
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: Pudsey Legal Services Ltd
Address(es): Cringlebar House, 415 Bradford Road, Pudsey, LEEDS LS28 7HQ
Firm ID: 573274
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Anthony Gale’s practising certificate for 2021/2022 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Gale is not a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Subject to condition 1, Mr Gale may act as a solicitor, only as an employee, where the role has first been approved by us.
- Mr Gale may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised Body.
Condition 2 to become effective 60 days following the date of this decision.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest and 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 - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 24 June 2021
Published date: 23 August 2021
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Maurice Smiths
Address(es): Bradley Street, Castleford, West Yorkshire WF10 1HP
Firm ID: 55484
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: Lofthouse & Co
Address(es): 16 Wesley Street, Castleford, West Yorkshire WF10 1AE
Firm ID: 74867
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Anthony Gale’s practising certificate for 2020/2021 has been granted subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Gale is not a sole solicitor manager or sole solicitor owner of an authorised body.
- Mr Gale may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.
- Mr Gale shall immediately inform any actual or prospective employer of these conditions and the reasons for their imposition.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest and 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.