Richard Melfi-Wroe
Employee
7268343

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 8 September 2026

Published date: 21 September 2026

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Keoghs LLP

Address(es): 2 The Parklands, Bolton, BL6 4SE, England

Firm ID: 573546

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Richard Melfi-Wroe, whose last known address was in Brighton, a person who is or was involved in legal practice but is not a solicitor.

At the time of his conduct, Mr Melfi Wroe was employed, as a paralegal by Keoghs LLP (the firm), a licensed body, at its office located at 2, The Parklands, Bolton BL6 4SE. He was employed by the firm from 4 May 2021 until 22 October 2024.

Summary of decision

Mr Melfi-Wroe was made subject to a disqualification order under section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.

The SRA has disqualified Mr Melfi-Wroe 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

On 26 February 2025, Mr Melfi-Wroe was convicted of two counts of witness intimidation contrary to section 51(1) and (6) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

On 29 May 2025, he was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment and subject to a restraining order for a period of 20 years expiring on 29 May 2045. It was found that:

Between 27 June 2024 and 19 December 2024, and during part of that period whilst employed as a paralegal in a licensed body, Richard Melfi-Wroe committed offences of witness intimidation, intending thereby to cause the police investigation to be obstructed, perverted or interfered with, resulting in his conviction of two counts of witness intimidation upon guilty pleas entered on 26 February 2025.

And thereby breached:

Principles 1, 2 and 5 of the SRA Principles.

Our decision on sanction

Mr Melfi-Wroe’s conduct breached relevant duties that applied to him as an employee of the firm, namely Principles 1, 2 and 5 of the SRA Principles. It was found that it would be undesirable for Mr Melfi-Wroe to act as a Head of Legal Practice, Head of Finance and Administration, a manager or employee of a body licensed in accordance with section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.

Mr Melfi-Wroe was disqualified from holding any of these roles.

He was also directed to pay costs of £1,350.

SRA Principles

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

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 5 - You act with integrity.