Leanne Sodergren
Employee
608125

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)

Outcome date: 8 July 2025

Published date: 15 July 2025

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: MLP Law Limited

Address(es): 7 Market Street, Altrincham, WA14 1QE

Firm ID: 635054

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Ms Sodergren, who is not a solicitor, was employed by MLP Law Limited of 7 Market Street, Altrincham (the firm) until July 2024.

Summary of decision

A finding of dishonesty was made against Ms Sodergren and she was made subject to a disqualification order under section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.

The SRA has disqualified Ms Sodergren from holding any of the following roles in law firms regulated by the SRA:

• Head of Legal Practice
• Head of Finance and Administration
• A manager
• An employee

The facts of the case

Ms Sodergren was a director and Head of Finance and Administration at the firm.

In July 2024 the firm was alerted by its bank to a suspicion of theft/fraud on its office account following suspicious transactions on a company credit card held by Ms Sodergren. The firm's investigations revealed that Ms Sodergren, who had taken on responsibility for reconciling and settling the firm's credit card statements, had been utilising the firm's credit card to make personal payments and purchases over a number of years.

Ms Sodergren admitted to the misconduct and resigned from the firm's employment with immediate effect.

It was found that between November 2019 and June 2024, Ms Sodergren used the company credit card to make personal payments and purchases in excess of £300,000, which were not for business use or purpose.

It was also found that Ms Sodergren's conduct was dishonest.

Our decision on sanction

Ms Sodergren's conduct breached relevant duties that applied to her as an employee of the firm, namely, Principles 2, 4 and 5 of the SRA Principles 2019.

It was found that it would be undesirable for Ms Sodergren to act as a Head of Legal Practice, Head of Finance and Administration, a manager or an employee of a body licensed in accordance with section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.

Ms Sodergren was disqualified from holding any of these roles.

She was also directed to pay costs of £600.

SRA Principles

SRA Principle 2 – You act in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons.

SRA Principle 4 – You act with honesty.

SRA Principle 5 – You act with integrity.

Other information

The ADM directed that the disqualification should have immediate effect, the decision should be published from the date of the letter or email notifying Ms Sodergren of this decision. Ms Sodergren was notified on 8 July 2025.

As per the publishing guidance, the length of publication is until the disqualification is lifted.