Vishal Sharma
Employee
7013612

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 22 December 2023

Published date: 28 May 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Lex Legal UK Limited

Address(es): 6 St Marks Street Bolton BL3 6NR

Firm ID: 570829

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Mr Sharma’s conduct meant that it was undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA’s prior approval. The order pursuant to section 43 was made effective 28 days after the date of the letter or email notifying Mr Sharma of this decision.

Mr Sharma’s conduct was serious because the court found his conduct to be dishonest. Honesty is required from all those involved in the provision of legal services and Mr Sharma has proved that he can act without this.

Mr Sharma was also ordered to pay a proportion of the SRA’s costs of £600

Reasons/basis

Vishal Sharma whose last known address was in Halewood, Liverpool

A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor.

Summary of decision

The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Mr Sharma can work in an SRA regulated firm.

It was found that: Mr Sharma, who is not a solicitor, was involved in a legal practice and has occasioned or been a party to an act or default which involved such conduct on his part that it is undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.

The facts of the case

Mr Sharma was employed by Premier Law Limited as a consultant and personal injury litigator between 2019 and 2022. In or around 5 January 2020 and 6 January 2021, Mr Sharma made two false declarations to the court regarding his employment status and finances, in respect of a private civil matter.

On 3 February 2023 in the County Court at Liverpool, Mr Sharma admitted to and was held in contempt of court. He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years.