Owen
Goodhand
Employee
7834347
Decision - Employee-related decision
Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)
Outcome date: 8 September 2026
Published date: 20 October 2026
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Martin Tolhurt Partnership LLP
Address(es): Unit 4, Ambley Green, Gillingham Business Park, Gillingham, ME8 0NJ
Firm ID: 408855
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Who does this decision relate to?
Owen Goodhand whose last known address was in Kent.
A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor.
At the time of his conduct, Mr Goodhand was employed as an apprentice solicitor at Martin Tolhurst Partnership LLP (the firm), a recognised body located at 4 Ambley Green, Gillingham Business Park, Kent ME8 0NJ.
Summary of decision
The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Mr Goodhand can work in an SRA regulated firm. It was found that:
Allegation 1
On 1 April 2025, Mr Goodhand sent an email to the firm's HR manager and his supervisor, stating illness as the reason for his absence on 28 March 2025 when he knew this not to be true.
Allegation 2
On 28 April 2025, Mr Goodhand responded ‘no' when asked by his supervisor if he was aware of any personal conduct issues that could constitute a breach of the SRA Code of Conduct, including ‘being arrested, charged or convicted on any criminal matter' when he knew this not to be true.
The facts of the case
Mr Goodhand was employed as an apprentice solicitor from 6 September 2023 until he was dismissed by the firm on 24 June 2025.
On 28 March 2025, Mr Goodhand was arrested following a police investigation and later released on bail.
On 1 April 2025, Mr Goodhand emailed the firm explaining the reason for his absence on 28 March 2025 was because he had been unwell.
On 28 April 2025, during a meeting with his supervisor at the firm he failed to disclose his arrest in response to a direct question.
On 8 May 2025, during a meeting with the compliance officer for legal practice at the firm, Mr Goodhand disclosed details of his arrest and admitted to being dishonest when previously questioned by his supervisor on 28 April 2025.
On 2 September 2025, Kent Police confirmed that the criminal investigation into Mr Goodhand was closed with no further action.
Decision on outcome
An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Mr Goodhand's conduct meant that it was undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA's prior approval.
This was because of the serious nature of his conduct which was dishonest.
Mr Goodhand was also ordered to pay the SRA's costs of £600.
What our Section 43 order means
- no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
- no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor's practice;
- no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him;
- no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body;
- no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to be a manager of the body; and
- no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to have an interest in the body
except in accordance with the SRA's prior written permission