SRA imposes tough practice controls on the former law firm manager
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has imposed practising certificate conditions on senior solicitor David Anthony Berens, restricting his ability to manage legal practices and access client money. The decision was made on 8 April 2026 and published by the regulator on 13 May 2026.
According to the SRA, Berens’ practising certificate for the 2025/2026 practice year is now subject to several conditions affecting his professional activities. Under the restrictions, Berens is prohibited from acting as a manager or owner of any authorised legal body. He is also barred from serving in compliance roles, including Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP), Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA), Head of Legal Practice (HOLP), and Head of Finance and Administration (HOFA) within authorised firms.
The SRA has additionally prohibited him from holding, receiving, or accessing client money. The conditions also prevent him from acting as a signatory on client or office accounts or authorising electronic transfers from such accounts.
The regulator stated that the decision was reached by an SRA decision-making process rather than by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The published notice identifies Fuglers (in association with David Berens & Co) LLP as the firm connected to the matters giving rise to the outcome. The firm’s listed address is 70 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 4QG.
At the date of publication, Berens was associated with Protopapas LLP, based at Queens House, 180 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7PD. The SRA notice did not provide further details regarding the underlying circumstances behind the restrictions.
Practising certificate conditions are regulatory controls imposed where the SRA considers restrictions necessary to protect the public interest, maintain confidence in legal services or manage identified risks connected to legal practice.
Conditions limiting access to client money and compliance functions are among the most serious restrictions the regulator can impose short of suspension or striking off proceedings. The SRA publishes regulatory decisions involving solicitors, firms and non-lawyer employees as part of its public protection and transparency responsibilities.
No allegation of dishonesty was stated within the published decision notice relating to Berens. The restrictions remain in force as conditions attached to his current practising certificate unless varied or removed by the regulator.