Susan Helen
Orton
Solicitor
584202
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal order
Outcome date: 15 October 2020
Published date: 14 January 2021
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: BPE Solicitors
Address(es): St James’ House, St James Square, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 3PR
Firm ID: 520350
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 15 October 2020.
Miss Orton was suspended from practice for six months.
The Tribunal further ordered that, on the expiry of that period of suspension, Ms. Orton should be subject to conditions imposed by the Tribunal as follows:
“The Respondent may not:
Practise as a sole practitioner or sole manager or sole owner of an authorised or recognised body; or as a freelance solicitor; or as a solicitor in an unregulated organisation;
Be a Head of Legal Practice/Compliance Officer for Legal Practice or a Head of Finance and Administration/Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration;
Work as a solicitor other than in employment approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Before commencing employment with any employer approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority the Respondent shall provide to that prospective employer:
- A copy of the Tribunal’s judgment in this case 11965/2019;
- A copy of a medical report prepared by a specialist consultant, which must be not more than 12 months old, addressing her mental health condition, any treatment received and her capacity to manage that condition.
- There be liberty to either party to apply to the Tribunal to vary the conditions set out above.”