SRA restrictions limit Parsons’ role, access to client money and client meetings.
Solicitor Fiona Parsons has been placed under interim practice conditions by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), restricting the roles she can undertake and her access to client money.
The conditions were imposed on 14 September 2023 under rule 3.2 of the SRA Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedure Rules. The SRA said the restrictions were necessary in the public interest or for the protection of the public.
At the time of the matters giving rise to the outcome, Parsons was working at Lambe Corner LLP in Hereford.
Under the interim practice conditions, Parsons may only act as a solicitor in a role approved by the SRA. She cannot act as a partner, manager or sole practitioner.
She is also prohibited from acting as a COLP or COFA, or from holding any other compliance role.
The restrictions also cover client money. Parsons is not permitted to hold, receive or have access to client money, and cannot act as a signatory on client or office accounts or authorise payments or transfers from those accounts.
The SRA further requires all correspondence relating to client accounts, including correspondence concerning fees, to be supervised.
Parsons must also be chaperoned for all client meetings.
The SRA record describes the measures as interim conditions. Under rule 3.2, an authorised decision maker may impose such conditions on a solicitor’s practising certificate at any stage while a final decision by the SRA or the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal is pending.
The published outcome records the decision as a condition, rather than a final disciplinary finding against the solicitor.
The SRA published the outcome on 9 October 2023.