An office manager who used company funds to order wine and champagne to her home address has been barred from the profession.
Laura Mason, an employee with US firm Cohen & Gresser, was given access to the office credit card to place orders for wine for business purposes.
But over a period of 11 months, she used the card for personal use to order wine and champagne to her home address, incurring what the SRA decision notice described as ‘significant’ expenses to the firm.
The issue was discovered in October 2023 when the firm’s auditors found unusual charges to the credit card and traced them back to Mason.
When asked for an explanation, she admitted to using the company credit card for personal use and resigned from the firm, offering to repay the sum in full.
Mason admitted her conduct was dishonest and lacked integrity. She told the SRA there were significant personal circumstances happening at the time.
The regulator said she had been in a position of trust within the firm and her behaviour showed a serious lack of judgement given her role. Her actions were repeated over 11 months and there was a possibility she may act in a similar way in the future if she was involved in legal practice without the SRA’s prior consent.
Mason was issued with a section 43 notice and agreed to pay £300 costs.
