Ian Patrick Charles Clay
Solicitor
419637

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Approval of employment (section 41)

Outcome date: 12 March 2024

Published date: 20 March 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Walker & Co Ltd

Address(es): 82 High Street, Maltby, Rotherham, S66 7BN

Firm ID: 419841

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: Lews Francis Blackburn Bray

Address(es): 14-16 Paradise Square, Sheffield, S1 2DE

Firm ID: 440680

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Lews Francis Blackburn Bray has been granted permission under section 41 of the Solicitors Act 1974 to employ Ian Patrick Charles Clay as a conveyancing assistant, subject to the following conditions:

1. Mr Clay’s employment at the firm is limited to that described in the firm’s application dated 6 November 2023, the accompanying job description and their emails dated 13 and 26 February 2024, save for the exceptions outlined below.
2. Mr Clay’s supervision is as outlined in the firm’s application dated 6 November 2023, and their emails dated 13 and 26 February 2024, namely that he is directly supervised by Richard Francis and, in Mr Francis’s absence, by Christopher Bray.

3. Mr Clay does not undertake any reserved legal activities for the firm.
4. Mr Clay does not have responsibility for receiving or holding client money.
5. Mr Clay’s supervisory responsibilities are limited to those outlined in the firm’s email dated 13 February 2024.
6. Any direct contact that Mr Clay has with clients will be carried out in accordance with the firm’s email dated 13 February 2024.

7. Any proposed variation to Mr Clay’s job description, duties, or supervision arrangements are notified to the SRA in advance of the change taking place and that the variation must not take place until permission is granted by the SRA.
8. This approval will lapse if Mr Clay’s employment with the firm is terminated.
9. This approval and the conditions attached to it are subject to review at the discretion of the SRA.

Reasons/basis

In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.

Mr Clay appeared before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal on 30 October 2023 – 01 November 2023.  

The Tribunal Ordered that Mr Clay to be suspended from practice as a solicitor for a period of six months to commence on Monday 6 November 2023 and that Mr Clay be restricted from practice thereafter until he had completed the Law Society SRA Principles and Code of Conduct course.

In accordance with section 41 of the Solicitors Act 1974, any solicitor wishing to employ or remunerate him in connection with their practise as a solicitor must obtain our approval. We are satisfied that the above employment will not put public confidence in the administration of justice and the provision of legal services or the interests of clients at risk.

Decision - Prosecution

Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Outcome date: 31 January 2023

Published date: 5 July 2023

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Walker & Co

Address(es): 82 High Street, Maltby, Rotherham S66 7BN

Firm ID: 419841

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: Lewis Francis Blackburn Bray

Address(es): 14-16 Paradise Square, Sheffield S1 2DE

Firm ID: 440680

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Reasons/basis

Outcome of SDT Hearing

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.

The matter was heard on 30 October 2023 – 01 November 2023.  

The Tribunal Ordered that Mr Clay to be suspended from practice as a solicitor for a period of six months to commence on Monday 6 November 2023 and that Mr Clay be restricted from practice thereafter until he had completed the Law Society SRA Principles and Code of Conduct course.

The SDT judgment will be available at www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk