Edward Taylor
Employee
7159288

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)

Outcome date: 30 January 2025

Published date: 12 March 2025

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Tozers LLP

Address(es): Broadwalk House, Southernhay West, Exeter, EX1 1UA

Firm ID: 465564

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Edward Taylor whose last known address was in Exmouth, Devon. A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor.

Summary of decision

The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Mr Taylor can work in an SRA regulated firm. Mr Taylor is employed as an IT Helpdesk Supervisor. It was found that Mr Taylor who is not a solicitor, is or was involved in a legal practice and has been convicted of a violent offence against a vulnerable person which is such that it is undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.

The facts of the case

Mr Taylor was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 21 September 2023 following violence against the victim, his former partner on 22 August 2022. His offending crossed the custody threshold and he was sentenced to a period of 12 months' imprisonment suspended for 24 months. The court also imposed a 3-year restraining order, rehabilitation activity, alcohol abstinence and monitoring and programme requirements to be completed in the community under the supervision of the probation service.

Decision on outcome

An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Mr Taylor's conduct meant that it was undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA's prior approval. The order pursuant to section 43 was made with effect from the expiry of the 28-day review period, or, if Mr Taylor requests a review, following the determination of this.

Mr Taylor's conduct was serious. He has been convicted of a violent offence. His assault on his former partner took place in a domestic context and resulted in physical injury, emotional and psychological harm. As such the victim is properly regarded as vulnerable. Mr Taylor was also ordered to pay a proportion of the SRA's costs of £600.

What our Section 43 order means

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor; 
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the solicitor's practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate him; 
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate him in connection with the business of that body; 
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to be a manager of the body; and 
6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit him to have an interest in the body except in accordance with the SRA's prior written permission.