By Ashley Young-
A former director has been banned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority(SRA) after he was sued by his firm over civil claims worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
In a decision notice published today by the regulator, former manager Aaron Playle had been disqualified from leading any other legal firm in future.
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playle was found guilty of failing to act with integrity and acting in a way that maintains the public’s trust in the profession.
The disgraced former director is now subject to a section 99 order preventing him from being head of any legal practice or acting as manager or employee. He was also ordered to pay the SRA’a £600 costs.
In 2019, the Solicitors Regulation Authority issued its third biggest fine against the law firm by charging the firm £124,000, after it sent six million marketing letters containing misleading statements.
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In November 2019, a civil court found that he had made unauthorised withdrawals from FindMyClaims, totalling £120,000 between 16 March and 28 March 2018, and that he caused two contractors to overcharge the company by £91,576 and received secret commissions totalling £203,387
The notice stated that in November 2019, following a civil claim brought by FindMyClaims against Playle, the court found he had made unauthorised withdrawals from the business coming to £120,000.
The SRA can fine traditional firms only up to £2,000 before the case moves up to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, but has the power to fine alternative business structures up to £250m.
The regulator investigates complaints against solicitors. Solicitors are not allowed ti mislead or attempt to mislead clients, the court or others, either by their own acts or omissions or allowing or being complicit in the acts or omissions of others (including your client).
A serious failure to meet our standards or a serious breach of our regulatory requirements may lead to our taking regulatory action against the firm itself as an entity, or its managers or compliance officers, who each have responsibilities for ensuring that the standards and requirements are met. We may also take action against employees working within the firm for any breaches for which they are responsible. A failure or breach may be serious either in isolation or because it comprises a persistent or concerning pattern of behaviour.
An SRA Spokesperson told The Eye Of Media.Com: ”Hayle’s lack of integrity means he will never be able to work in the legal profession ever again. All cases of misconduct involving money are sent to the police, and they decide whether there is a criminal case for prosecution in terms of evidence and the public interest”.
Playle was a director and owner of Hertfordshire practice FindMyClaims (also known as FMC Law Limited) from September 2007 to February 2019.
A serious failure to meet the standards of The SRA or a serious breach of its regulatory requirements may lead to the regulator taking regulatory action against the firm itself as an entity, or its managers or compliance officers, who each have responsibilities for ensuring that the standards and requirements are met. The SRA also takes action against employees working within the firm for any breaches for which they are responsible.
do not mislead or attempt to mislead your clients, the court or others, either by your own acts or omissions or allowing or being complicit in the acts or omissions of others (including your client).
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