Dentons UK and Middle East LLP
One Fleet Place, London
, EC4M 7WS
Recognised body
447523
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
Outcome date: 19 December 2022
Published date: 24 July 2023
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Dentons UK and Middle East LLP
Address(es): One Fleet Place, London EC4M 7WS
Firm ID: 447523
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Reasons/basis
Outcome of SDT Hearing
This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which reaches its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Respondent. The Tribunal had certified that there was a case to answer.
The matter was heard on 4-8 and 11 March 2024.
The Tribunal found allegation 1.1 – breach of Regulation 14 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 proved only as a finding of fact but not as a breach of the Principles and the Code. The Tribunal made no Order as to costs and dismissed the allegations.
The SDT judgment will be available at www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk.
The SDT Order was subject to an Appeal to the High Court (Administration Court) by the SRA.
The Appeal was heard on 29 January 2025. The Judgment was reserved.
On 11 March 2025, the Judgment was handed down by the Court. The Court ordered that:
- The SRA's appeal is allowed.
- The decision of the Tribunal dated 11 March 2024 is quashed.
- The case against Dentons is remitted to a fresh panel of the Tribunal for re-consideration.
- Dentons do pay the SRA's reasonable costs of the proceedings before the Tribunal, to be assessed if not agreed.
- Dentons do pay the SRA's reasonable costs of the appeal, to be subject to a detailed assessment, if not agreed.