SDT suspends Liverpool solicitor Sarah Kearney for three months after agreed outcome
Liverpool solicitor Sarah Louise Kearney has been suspended from practising for three months following a decision by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).
The tribunal approved an Agreed Outcome on 25 September 2025, which imposed the suspension to begin immediately on the same date. The decision followed a prosecution brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in connection with her work at High Street Solicitors Ltd, where she was employed at the time of the events giving rise to the case.
High Street Solicitors Ltd, based at No. 1 Tithebarn House, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool, is a well-known practice in the region, specialising in personal injury and consumer law.
According to the SRA’s published decision, the disciplinary proceedings were brought after the regulator determined there was a case to answer before the tribunal. The SDT, an independent body, considers evidence from both the SRA and the respondent solicitor before determining whether misconduct has occurred and, if so, what sanction is appropriate.
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In this case, the SDT concluded that the matter could be resolved through an Agreed Outcome, a process allowing solicitors to admit allegations and accept a sanction without a contested hearing. The tribunal then reviewed and approved the agreement.
Under the order, Kearney is suspended from practice for a period of three months, effective from 25 September 2025. During the suspension, she is prohibited from practising as a solicitor, holding herself out as one, or undertaking any work requiring solicitor authorisation.
Details of the underlying misconduct have not yet been published, and the full written judgment is expected to be released in due course on the SDT’s official website.
The SRA said it had referred the matter to the tribunal in line with its enforcement procedures, which require independent oversight for cases involving potential breaches of the professional principles or allegations of serious misconduct.
An SRA spokesperson said: “The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal is independent of the SRA and reaches its own decision after considering all the evidence. In this case, the tribunal certified that there was a case to answer and subsequently approved the agreed sanction.”
Once the suspension period has expired, Kearney may apply to have her practising certificate restored, subject to any conditions the regulator considers necessary to protect the public and uphold confidence in the profession.
The decision continues a trend of the SRA and SDT using short-term suspensions to address professional misconduct deemed serious but not warranting a strike-off. Sanctions of this kind are typically reserved for conduct involving lapses in professional standards, breaches of ethical duties, or regulatory failings that fall short
The case is one of several recent disciplinary actions involving solicitors at regional practices, reflecting the regulator’s continued focus on maintaining professional standards across the sector.