SRA imposes conditions restricting management roles and access to client funds
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has imposed practising certificate conditions on family law solicitor Rachel Edwards Barrott, restricting her ability to manage legal practices and handle client money. The conditions took effect on 9 April 2026 and were published by the regulator on 1 June 2026.
At the time of the matters giving rise to the regulatory action, Edwards Barrott was associated with The National Family Law Practice, based in Hoylake, Wirral. Under the conditions attached to her practising certificate for the 2025/26 practising year, Edwards Barrott is prohibited from acting as a manager or owner of any authorised legal practice.
The SRA has also barred her from holding, receiving or accessing client money. In addition, she cannot act as a signatory on any client or office account. The regulator has further restricted her ability to practise independently by preventing her from providing legal services as a freelance solicitor offering either reserved or unreserved legal services on her own account under Regulation 10.2(a) and (b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
The conditions restrict Mrs Edwards Barrott from acting as a manager or owner of an authorised body, handling client money, acting as a signatory on client or office accounts, or practising as a freelance solicitor on her own account.
The SRA’s published decision does not set out detailed allegations or factual findings behind the restrictions. However, the regulator stated that the conditions were imposed because they were considered necessary in the public interest.
According to the decision notice, the SRA determined that the measures were reasonable and proportionate, taking into account the purposes set out in Regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations, as well as the regulatory objectives and principles contained in the Legal Services Act 2007.
The SRA stated that the conditions were necessary in the public interest and were reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in Regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.