Michael John
Baker
Solicitor
157679
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
Outcome date: 4 September 2023
Published date: 29 January 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Baker McDonald
Address(es): The Old Bat & Ball, St Johns Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3PF
Firm ID: 079285
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, while in practice as a Solicitor, he:
- From a date known to be between 21 February 2016 and 7 March 2016 to 28 April 2016, practiced as a solicitor during a period of suspension from practice imposed by the Tribunal and without a practising certificate.
- From 28 April 2016 to 31 January 2017, worked at Baker McDonald Solicitors without obtaining prior approval of the employment by the SRA contrary to the conditions imposed on his practising certificate on 28 April 2016 and the Order of the SDT dated 8 January 2015.
- Completed the sale of clients’ properties, business, and additional land before securing agreed loans to the buyers against the land.
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: 13 March 2023
Published date: 17 April 2023
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Baker Macdonald
Address(es): The Old Bat & Ball, St Johns Hill, Sevenoaks, TN13 3PF
Firm ID: 79285
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Michael Baker's practising certificate for 2022/2023 has been granted subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Baker may act as a solicitor, only as an employee whose role has first been approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
- Mr Baker may not act as a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Mr Baker does not hold, receive or have access to client money, or act as a signatory to any client or office account, or have the power to authorise electronic transfers from any client or office account.
- Mr Baker may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body or authorised non-SRA firm.
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: 29 June 2022
Published date: 7 July 2022
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Baker Macdonald
Address(es): The Old Bat & Ball, St Johns Hill, Sevenoaks, TN13 3PF,England
Firm ID: 79285
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Michael John Baker’s practising certificate for 2021/2022 has been granted subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Baker may not act as a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Mr Baker may act as a solicitor, only as an employee whose role has first been approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
- Mr Baker may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body or authorised non-SRA firm.
- Mr Baker may not hold, receive or have access to client money, or act as a signatory to any client or office account, or have the power to authorise electronic transfers from a 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 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: 5 July 2021
Published date: 17 September 2021
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: BAKER MACDONALD
Address(es): The Old Bat & Ball, St Johns Hill, SEVENOAKS, TN13 3PF, England
Firm ID: 79285
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Michael John Baker's practising certificate for 2020/2021 has been granted subject to the following conditions:
- Michael John Baker may not act as a manager or owner of any authorised body.
- Michael John Baker may act as a solicitor, only as an employee whose role has first been approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
- Michael John Baker may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body or authorised non-SRA firm.
- Michael John Baker does not hold, receive or have access to client money, or 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 condition is 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.