Sarah Lesley
Watson
Solicitor
410600
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
Outcome date: 18 March 2024
Published date: 10 September 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Watson Legal Limited
Address(es): Hill Farm, Church Lane, Ford End, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 1LH
Firm ID: 642032
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:-
- Between 11 September 2020 and 11 December 2020, Ms Watson improperly transferred 25 payments from the Firm's client account to its office account;
- Allowed a minimum cash shortage to occur on the Firm's client account as at 31 January 2023 and failed to rectify the same.
- Between 11 and 19 February 2021, raised 13 cheques on the Firm's client account when there were insufficient funds in that account to make those payments;
- From 10 September 2020 to 24 November 2020, retained sums on client matter A when there was no legitimate reason to do so;
- Between approximately 1 May 2019 and 25 February 2021, failed to keep accounting records properly written up to show the Firm's dealings with client and office money, and failed to appropriately record all dealings with client money.
The allegations are subject to a Hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven.