---

SRA hands down record drink-driving fine

The body that regulates the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales has issued its biggest fine for a solicitor convicted of a drink-driving offence.

The Law Society Gazette of England and Wales says that Richard Lunn agreed to pay Stg £13,836 after his conviction for driving a car while under the influence of alcohol.

The Gazette adds that the fine from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) was some 31 times higher than the financial penalty issued by the court, where he was fined £437.

New approach

The SRA last year amended its approach to take account of income when issuing fines against firm and individuals.

Drink-driving convictions previously resulted in fines of around £1,500, but the revised approach – combined with the SRA increasing its maximum fining powers to £25,000 – means than much larger penalties are likely to become common, according to the Gazette.

Last week, Piers King, a solicitor with London firm Farrer & Co, was ordered to pay £10,105 after he was disqualified for 22 months for driving when his alcohol level was above the limit. SRA guidance indicated that the penalty should be 16-49% of King’s annual gross income.