The Solicitors Regulation Authority has shut down the practice of a family law solicitor who was convicted last month of tax fraud after wrongfully claiming £37,000 in income tax repayments.
The SRA said today that it had intervened into the practice of Dianna Lee - also known as Dianna Gerald, Donna Gerald, Diana Gerhold and Diane Glackin - who worked at Simply Solicitors (Family Law Consultants), in Cheltenham and Worcester.
A decision published on the regulator’s website states that the adjudication panel was satisfied that there was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of Lee in connection with her practice, and that she had failed to comply with one or more of the SRA principles and/or accounts rules.
It was also necessary to intervene to protect the interests of clients, or former or potential clients, of Lee or her firm.
In a separate decision, the regulator said it had intervened into Family Law Consultants Limited, trading as Simply Solicitors, because the panel was satisfied that there was reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of the manager of the firm, and that the manager had failed to comply with one or more of the SRA principles and/or accounts rules.
Last month the Gazette reported that Dianna Gerald was convicted at Manchester Crown Court on four counts of fraud by false representation.
She was found guilty following a 12-day trial and is expected to be sentenced next month.
