Sarah Louise Kearney

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Sarah Louise Kearney, a solicitor and Manager/HOLP at High Street Solicitors, failed between January and April 2023 to disclose material details of the firm's serious financial difficulties (including statutory demands and winding-up petitions) to an SRA Forensic Investigation Officer during an investigation. She admitted the allegation including lack of integrity, though no dishonesty was alleged. The Tribunal, dealing with the matter on the papers by agreed outcome, suspended her for 3 months and ordered costs of £12,842.66.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Knew or ought to have known conduct breached obligations to protect public and reputation of profession
• As manager and HOLP had duty to report firm's financial difficulties to SRA
• Misconduct repeated over a prolonged period of over four months
• High culpability as experienced solicitor with responsibility for compliance

Mitigating factors:

• Prior exemplary regulatory and disciplinary history
• No allegation or finding of dishonesty
• No advantage sought or gained
• Full admissions and genuine insight
• Full co-operation with SRA investigation and proceedings
• Sincere apology