Solicitors Regulation Authority oversight and enforcement

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has reported a complex regulatory landscape characterized by improvements in anti-money laundering (AML) compliance alongside rising misconduct concerns. Annual data shows a 10% decrease in non-compliant firms, with the proportion of non-compliant firms dropping from 32.4% to 21.9%. Additionally, reports of potential money laundering breaches fell by 26% following the SRA’s largest proactive AML supervision program to date.

Conversely, reports of solicitor misconduct rose by 34%, totaling 15,914 cases, and matters referred for investigation increased by 52%. This surge has impacted the regulator’s ability to meet certain timeliness targets. Enforcement activity has intensified, with the SRA issuing 176 fines totaling £6.7 million in the 2024-25 period.

Individual enforcement actions have targeted specific instances of dishonesty. The SRA issued section 43 orders against a locum paralegal, Manjeet Puar, for providing false information regarding her absence from work. In a related case involving apprentice solicitor Owen Goodhand, the SRA issued a section 43 order after findings that he had been “dishonest” regarding an absence from Martin Tolhurt Partnership LLP. Goodhand had claimed he was ill on March 28, 2025, when he had actually been arrested as part of a police investigation. Although the police investigation was closed with no further action, Goodhand failed to disclose the arrest when questioned by his supervisor. He has been ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £600.