A workplace experience specialist has been barred from working for a law firm in any capacity without the regulator’s permission after he admitted child and extreme pornography charges.
Howard Ellis, who worked for international firm Latham & Watkins LLP for more than a decade, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child; one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images.
In July 2022, at Woolwich Crown Court, he was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment and placed on a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.
Ellis said he had ‘no intention to work in a legal practice again’. His role at Latham & Watkins, which included liaising with other employees, on-site facilities activities and serving as a member of the safety and emergency team, was terminated after the firm found out Ellis had been convicted. The firm notified the Solicitors Regulation Authority of Ellis’ conviction.
Ellis has agreed to the section 43 order which imposes conditions on his future employment at any firm and controls where he can work. He accepted ‘that by virtue of his conviction, it means that it is undesirable for him to be involved in a legal practice’.
Mitigating circumstances, which the SRA took into account, included that Ellis had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and co-operated with the SRA’s investigation.
The SRA said: ‘The nature and seriousness of the convictions damages public confidence and trust in the profession.’
It added that Ellis’ role within the facilities department of the firm meant he had contact with employees across the organisation at all levels of seniority, ‘potential’ contact with clients and visitors to the firm’s offices, and access to the firm’s IT systems.
It added: ‘Therefore the nature and seriousness of the convictions presents a risk of future damage or harm towards clients of any firm Mr Ellis may go on to work for, employees of any such firm, and the firm itself.’
Ellis must also pay £300 costs for the SRA investigation.
