Ayse
Johnson
Employee
726775
Decision - Employee-related decision
Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)
Outcome date: 10 September 2026
Published date: 21 September 2026
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Peter Brown & Co Solicitors, LLP
Address(es): 19 Station Road, New Barnet, Barnet EN5 1QJ
Firm ID: 466572
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Who does this decision relate to?
Ayse Johnson whose last known address was in Hertfordshire.
A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor.
At the time of her conduct, Mrs Johnson was employed as follows:
- As a secretary and then a paralegal at Peter Brown & Co Solicitors LLP, a recognised body, located at 19 Station Road, New Barnet, Barnet EN5 1QJ.
- As a technical specialist at Optima Legal Services Ltd, a licensed body, located at Suite 5A, West Village, 114 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 1BA.
Summary of decision
The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Mrs Johnson can work in an SRA regulated firm. It was found that:
Mrs Johnson, who is not a solicitor, was convicted of a criminal offence and was involved in acts or defaults that make it undesirable for her to be involved in legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.
The facts of the case
On 8 July 2024, Mrs Johnson was convicted at St.Albans Crown Court, for the offence of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour contrary to section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986. At the time she was employed by Optima Legal Services Limited.
Mrs Johnson was absent from work on 8 July 2024, due to her attendance at court, however, she told Optima Legal Services Limited, that the reason for her absence was because she had a migraine.
Mrs Johnson was also a member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. On 27 February 2025 following a disciplinary investigation, the CILEX disciplinary tribunal made findings of professional misconduct against Mrs Johnson, to include failing to act with honesty and integrity.
Decision on outcome
An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Mrs Johnson's conduct meant that it was undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA's prior approval.
Mrs Johnson's conduct was serious because it involved dishonesty and she was convicted of a criminal offence, such behaviour risks affecting public trust and confidence in the profession.
Mrs Johnson was also ordered to pay a proportion of the SRA's costs of £1,350.
What our Section 43 order means
- no solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
- no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the solicitor's practice;
- no recognised body shall employ or remunerate her;
- no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the business of that body;
- no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to be a manager of the body; and
- no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to have an interest in the body
except in accordance with the SRA's prior written permission.
Other information
Addtional firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Optima Legal Services Limited
Suite 5A
West Village
114 Wellington Street
Leeds
LS1 1BA
SRA ID: 441547