Sarah Louise Williams

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

Sarah Louise Williams was made subject to a Bankruptcy Order on 2 January 2020, which by operation of s.15(1) Solicitors Act 1974 automatically suspended her practising certificate. She nevertheless practised as a locum solicitor at Duncan Morris Solicitors and Hanne & Co for about a year and failed to notify the SRA of her bankruptcy, contrary to Rule 7.6(b). The Tribunal found both allegations proved, breaching Principles 2 and 5 and Rule 7.6(b). The Tribunal gave her the benefit of the doubt as to when she became aware of the bankruptcy but found a flagrant lack of integrity; it did NOT make a finding of dishonesty. Williams did not engage or attend, and the Tribunal proceeded in her absence and drew adverse inferences. She was suspended indefinitely (able to apply to terminate once discharged from bankruptcy) and ordered to pay costs of £13,350.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients
• Self-report to the regulator

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was deliberate and calculated or repeated
• Continued over a period of time (approximately a year)
• Sought to conceal her bankruptcy by not notifying the SRA
• Knew or ought to have known practising without authorisation breached obligations to protect the public and profession
• Worked at two firms while suspended