Stephen Mark Davies
SRA-regulated solicitor
Conditions apply
This person is allowed to practise as a solicitor, but 'conditions apply' means we restrict what they can do. You can read these restrictions below, in their regulatory record.
- Authorisation
- Admitted on 01/11/1993. Annual practising certificate from 02/06/2024.
- Type of lawyer
- PracticingSolicitorWithConditions
- Regulator
- Solicitors Regulation Authority
- SRA number
- 161168
- Regulatory record
- Show regulatory record
The services this person can provide and the protections for clients depend on where this person works.
DECISION HISTORY
These are the disciplinary and regulatory decisions published under our decision publication policy.
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Termination of suspension of PC/registration
Outcome date: 17 July 2024
Published date: 15 August 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Steve Davies Solicitors Limited
Address(es): 57 Liverpool Rd North, Burscough, ORMSKIRK, L40 0SA
Firm ID: 645997
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Stephen Davies' practising certificate for 2023/2024 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Davies shall not act as a manager or owner of an authorised body.
- Mr Davies may not practice on his own account under regulation 10.2(a) or (b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
- Mr Davies may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest. They are reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations, and the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activities as contained in section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 22 April 2024
Published date: 6 June 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Steve Davies Solicitors Ltd
Address(es): 57 Liverpool Rd North, Burscough, Ormskirk, L40 0SA
Firm ID: 645997
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: Abington Law Ltd
Address(es): 5 Clock Tower Park, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool, L10 1LD
Firm ID: 811106
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Mr Davies' practising certificate for 2023/2024 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Davies shall not act as a manager or owner of an authorised body.
- Mr Davies may not practise on his own account under regulation 10.2(a) or (b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
- Mr Davies may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above conditions are necessary in the public interest. They are reasonable and proportionate having regard to the purposes set out in regulation 7 of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations, and the regulatory objectives and principles governing regulatory activities as contained in section 28 of the Legal Services Act 2007
Decision - Sanction
Outcome: Rebuke
Outcome date: 16 March 2022
Published date: 18 March 2022
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Steve Davies Solicitors Ltd
Address(es): 57 Liverpool Road North Burscough Ormskirk L40 0SA
Firm ID: 645997
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Steven Mark Davies (Mr Davies) a Solicitors of Steve Davies Solicitors Ltd agreed to the following outcome:
- He is rebuked
- To the publication of the RSA
- To pay the costs of the investigation of £600
Reasons/basis
1.1 Mr Davies made the following admissions which the SRA accepts:
- As at the 31 January 2021 there was a minimum client account shortage of £17,296.88 because of (a) incorrect transfers from the client bank account showing as debit balances on client ledgers (b) incorrect adjustments made on the client account reconciliation and (c) unexplained differences
- By failing to ensure that the Firm kept and maintained accurate, contemporaneous, and chronological records he has breached Rules 1.2, 29.1, 29.2 of the SRA Accounts Rules 2011 and Rule 8.1 of the SRA Accounts Rules 2019.
- By failing to promptly investigate and resolve differences in the reconciliations he has breached Rule 7.1 of the SRA Accounts Rules 2011 and Rules 6.1 and 8.3 SRA Accounts Rules 2019.
- By failing to ensure that client account reconciliations were conducted in accordance with the accounts rules Mr Davies has breached Rule 8.3 of the SRA Accounts Rules
- By failing to promptly report the issues with the Firm’s books of account to the SRA during the above period he has breached Paragraph 9.2 of the SRA Code of Conduct of Conduct for Firms.
Other information
The SRA considers that a written rebuke is the appropriate outcome because:
- The breaches have been rectified but misconduct continued for longer than was reasonable
- There was no lasting significant harm to consumers or third parties
- Mr Davies should have made sure that the Firm had better systems in place. As the COFA and an experienced solicitor Mr Davies should have known that it was his responsibility to put these systems in place to ensure compliance with the accounts rules
A rebuke is appropriate to maintain professional standards and uphold public confidence in the solicitors’ profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons, because it reflects the seriousness of the misconduct and provides a creditable deterrent to others. A rebuke therefore meets the requirements of rule 3.1 of the Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedure Rules.