Disgraced law clerk offends 47 times

In an attempt to gain money, a law clerk of a top property law firm executed 47 rule breaches.

The staff member, Ms Caroline Yates,(SRA ID- 619075) of real estate law firm, Ashurst LLP- Appold Street, London was found to have forged the signature of a partner at the practice on 47 different occasions in order to take money from the firm for personal gain.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) stated that her breaches at the London-based firm transpired during a three-year period between 2010 and 2013.

As a result, the regulator has made a section 43 order against the employee, which means that solicitors and their employees are prohibited from employing or remunerating Ms Yates in connection with their practice. Any recognised body including its manager or employee are also banned from   employing or remunerating her unless the Society has given its permission.

Ms Yates has also been handed a written rebuke and was ordered to fork out £1,100 on the 14th November 2014 to cover both a financial penalty and the costs of the investigation that was made.

In a video that was on the firm’s site, Caroline Yates was listed as a Litigation Secretary, where in a corporate video, she explained that she had been an employee for eight and a half years, describing the firm as “very friendly and supporting”.

Yates must have been with the firm from its inception as, according to Companies House, the firm was incorporated around eight years ago.

The law practice, which also trades in construction, advertises on its website as the “leading international law firm” advising corporates and financial institutions. Also, it announced recently that it was dubbed as one of the top 25 firms for real estate law.

The firm has over 400 partners and 1,700 lawyers in total.