A consultant at a law firm who left a man bleeding from the head after throwing a bottle at him following a dispute in a bar has been barred from working in the profession  without the SRA’s permission under a section 43 order. 

Non-solicitor Saul Oyefeso was in a public house when he interrupted a conversation of other people who were drinking there and they asked him to leave him alone on more than one occasion, the SRA said. He became aggressive during the incident on 9th August 2018, Oyefeso followed the group outside, where he threw a glass directly at the victim’s head, causing a laceration that bled profusely and leaving a scar, the regulator added.

Oyefeso was employed in the personal injury department of Hawkins Law Limited from 1 May 2019 until 17 January 2020 and from 8 June 2020 to 4th December 2020.On 23 October 2019, he pleaded guilty and was convicted of grievous bodily harm without intent and causing criminal damage to property. He  was jailed for 16 months.

The SRA said in a decision: ‘Oyefeso’s conviction calls into question his integrity and compliance with law abiding behaviour. He acted in a public facing role at the firm and interacted with clients and members of the profession.

‘Clients, the profession and the public would not expect a person employed in such a role at a firm to have a conviction for serious offences including violence which resulted in a custodial sentence. The nature of the offences for which he was convicted mean that his employment in the profession without controls, would diminish public trust and confidence in the legal profession and in the delivery of legal services.’

Oyefeso was also ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £600.

 

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