Russell
Ford
Solicitor
160210
Decision - Sanction
Outcome: Rebuke
Outcome date: 16 May 2022
Published date: 20 June 2022
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Owen White Limited
Address(es): Senate House, 62-70 Bath Road, Slough SL1 3SR
Firm ID: 573277
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Russell Lee Ford is a solicitor and director of Owen White Limited whose head office is at Senate House, 62-70 Bath Road, Slough SL1 3SR.
Mr Ford was supervising a junior solicitor. On 9 October 2020, the junior solicitor sent a draft consent order to settle ongoing litigation. This order included a clause requiring the withdrawal of all complaints about the firm to the SRA or any other body. By drafting and/or authorising the junior solicitor to include this clause in a consent order Mr Ford:
- Failed to effectively supervise the solicitor in breach of paragraph 3.5(b) of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct
- Failed to ensure the junior solicitor kept their professional knowledge and skills, as well as understanding their ethical and regulatory obligations up to date in breach of paragraph 3.6 of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct.
- Attempted to prevent an individual from making a complaint to the SRA or any other body in breach of paragraph 7.5 of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct and
- Did not act in way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors’ profession and in legal services provided by him in breach of Principle 2.
Mr Ford was issued with a written rebuke and ordered to pay costs of £600.