Maurice Bryson-Sasso
Employee
7155816

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 2 March 2024

Published date: 12 March 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Irwin Mitchell LLP

Address(es): Riverside East, 2 Millsands, Sheffield, S3 8DT

Firm ID: 570654

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Maurice Bryson-Sasso formerly of Smethwick, West Midlands and Southall, Middlesex

Summary of decision

The SRA has disqualified Mr Bryson-Sasso with immediate effect 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

Mr Bryson-Sasso, who is not a solicitor, was employed by Irwin Mitchell LLP, whose head office is at Riverside East, 2 Millsands, Sheffield, S3 8DT from 16 September 2019 to 30 August 2021.

Mr Bryson-Sasso acted on behalf of a claimant in a personal injury claim.

On 9 June 2020, Mr Bryson-Sasso signed and filed a witness statement with the court that contained inaccurate information about the date on which he had instructed an expert witness.

On 10 June 2020, Mr Bryson-Sasso told counsel via email that he had instructed the expert on 20 November 2019, when he knew he had not done so until a later date.

It was found that Mr Bryson-Sasso breached Principles 1, 2 and 5 of the SRA Principles 2019. He was found to have been dishonest in breach of Principle 4.

Our decision on sanction

Mr Bryson-Sasso's conduct breached relevant duties that applied to him as an employee of the firm, namely SRA Principles 1, 2, 4 and 5 (2019).

It was found that it would be undesirable for him 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.

Mr Bryson-Sasso was disqualified from holding any of these roles. 

Mr Bryson-Sasso was also ordered to pay the SRA's costs of £1,350.

SRA Principles (2019)

Principle 1: You act in a way that upholds the constitutional principle of the rule of law, and the proper administration of justice.

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.

Principle 4: You act with honesty.

Principle 5: You act with integrity.