Sovani Ramona
James
Solicitor
432409
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
Outcome date: 11 October 2016
Published date: 18 October 2017
Firm details
No detail provided:
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 27 and 28 November 2017. The Tribunal ordered that:
1. the Respondent be suspended from practice as a solicitor for the period of two years to commence on 28 November 2017, that period of suspension to be suspended for three years from the same date subject to compliance by the Respondent with the terms of the Restriction Order imposing conditions on practice set at paragraph two below.
2. The Respondent shall be subject to conditions on practice imposed by the tribunal for the period of 3 years to commence on 28 November 2017 as follows:
2.1. The Respondent may not:
2.1.1. Practise as a sole practitioner or sole manager or sole owner of an authorised or recognised body;
2.1.2. Practise other than under the direct supervision of a partner or member of her employers
2.1.3. 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;
2.1.4. Be a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice or a Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration;
2.1.5. Hold client money;
2.1.6. Be a signatory on any client account
2.1.7. Work as a solicitor other than in employment approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
2.1.8. The Respondent must inform any prospective employer of the existence of these conditions and the reasons for them.
3. If the Respondent is found to have breached any of the conditions set out in paragraph two above during the period of three years under restriction, activation by the Tribunal of the period of suspension of two years may follow in addition to any sanction imposed for the breach of the condition(s).
4. If the period of three years under restriction is successfully completed, the suspended suspension from practice of two years will cease to have effect.
5. There be liberty to either party to apply to the Tribunal to vary the conditions set out at paragraph 2 above.
The SDT judgment will be available at www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk
This Outcome is subject to an Appeal by the SRA dated 23/01/18 against the SDT's decision on Sanction.
The Appeal was heard in the High Court on 31 October and 1 November 2018.
It was ordered that:
- The appeal is allowed.
- The suspended suspension subject to compliance with a Restriction order imposed by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal is quashed.
- Sovani Romana James be Struck Off The Roll of Solicitors.