SRA issues rebuke to Jason Lartey for retaining disbursement funds and causing shortfall
On 8 September 2025 the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) issued a rebuke to solicitor Jason Lartey (SRA number 475431) for causing or allowing client funds intended for professional disbursements to be retained in his firm’s office account instead of being paid to recipients or transferred into the client account. The decision was published on 13 October 2025.
The SRA’s finding relates to Mr Lartey’s role as director and head of legal practice (HOLP) of One Legal Services (trading as One Legal) Limited from 3 March 2017 until the firm ceased trading on 5 December 2019. One Legal’s registered address at the time of the matters giving rise to the decision was 12 Eaton Avenue, Buckshaw Village, Euxton, PR7 7NA (Firm ID 598712). At the date of publication Mr Lartey was recorded as a director of Lartey & Co Ltd, The Fuel Tank, Unit B16, 8–12 Creekside, Deptford, London SE8 3DX (Firm ID 669686).
The SRA’s forensic investigation established that the firm received £53,913.85 from the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) between 5 March 2018 and 11 November 2019 in respect of 36 professional disbursements for expert fees on legally aided criminal matters. That money was paid into the firm’s business (office) bank account rather than used to pay the expert witnesses or transferred to the firm’s client bank account. The forensic report identified a minimum client account shortage of £53,913.85 as at 25 November 2019.
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Complaints reached the SRA after One Legal ceased trading and entered administration on 5 December 2019; an administrator was appointed on 3 January 2020. Between 11 December 2019 and 19 May 2020 the SRA received allegations that the firm had failed to pay invoices submitted by expert witnesses for reports provided in criminal proceedings. The SRA then commenced a forensic investigation, which produced a report dated 12 August 2022 setting out the identified shortfall and the flow of funds.
The SRA’s decision record sets out three core allegations. First, between 1 March 2018 and 11 November 2019 Mr Lartey caused or allowed monies received for unpaid professional disbursements to remain in the firm’s office account longer than permitted under rule 19.1(b) of the SRA Accounts Rules 2011. Second, having received monies to discharge disbursements, he failed to pay the appropriate recipients and did not transfer the monies from the office account to the client account. The SRA found breaches of Principles 6, 8 and 10 of the SRA Principles 2011 and of rules 14.1, 17.1(b) and 19.1(b) of the Accounts Rules. Third, his conduct caused and/or allowed minimum cash shortages totalling up to £53,913.85 on the firm’s client account, in breach of rule 7.1 and the same Principles.
In reaching sanction the SRA judged the conduct serious because Mr Lartey was an experienced solicitor and the solicitor manager and HOLP of the firm. The regulator noted that his regulatory responsibilities included ensuring disbursements were paid or that the money was protected in the client account. The SRA recorded that disbursement providers were owed a significant sum which they have been unable to recover, and that the conduct harmed public trust in the solicitor and in legal services.
The SRA determined that a rebuke was appropriate and proportionate. The decision record cites mitigating factors: Mr Lartey has shown insight and remorse and has put measures in place to prevent a recurrence, and the regulator assessed a low risk of repetition. The rebuke was imposed on 8 September 2025 and Mr Lartey was ordered to pay costs of £1,350.
The outcome underscores the SRA’s requirement that client money must be handled promptly and in accordance with the Accounts Rules, particularly where Legal Aid payments for professional disbursements are concerned.