Sharon Hawkes
Employee
7582055

Decision - Employee-related decision

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

Outcome date: 2 April 2026

Published date: 21 September 2026

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Richard Griffiths & Co Solicitors

Address(es): 86 Crane Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2QD

Firm ID: 283127

Firm or organisation at date of publication

Name: Parker Bullen LLP

Address(es): 45 Castle Street, Sailsbury, Wiltshire, SP1 3SS

Firm ID: 535414

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Sharon Hawkes whose last known address was in Salisbury.

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 Ms Hawkes can work in an SRA regulated firm. It was found that:

Ms Hawkes, 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 her part that it is undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.

The facts of the case

Ms Hawkes was employed as a caseworker in the private client department, at Richard Griffiths and Co Solicitors. She worked at the firm from 15 May 2018 until 16 March 2022.

Between 14 March 2022 and 6 March 2025, Ms Hawkes submitted four signed witness statements, one to a Richard Griffiths and Co disciplinary hearing, two to the Solicitors Regulation Authority and one to the employment tribunal, that she knew included false information. She has since submitted a corrective statement to the employment tribunal.

Ms Hawkes actions were found to be dishonest.

Decision on outcome

An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Ms Hawkes conduct meant that it was undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA's prior approval. The order pursuant to section 43 was made with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying Ms Hawkes of this decision:

Ms Hawkes conduct was serious because it involved dishonesty and such behaviour risks affecting public trust and confidence in the profession.

Ms Hawkes was also ordered to pay a proportion of the SRA’s costs of £600.

What our Section 43 order means

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with her practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the solicitor's practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate her;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to be a manager of the body; and
6. 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.