Nicholas Arthur John
Devlin
Solicitor
577623
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
Outcome date: 22 May 2025
Published date: 14 January 2026
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Cartmell Shepherd Limited
Address(es): Viaduct House, Carlisle CA3 8EZ
Firm ID: 618960
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Reasons/basis
This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which will reach its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Solicitor. The Tribunal has certified that there is a case to answer in respect of allegations which are or include that:-
- Between March 2020 and November 2022, Mr Devlin created records as to the time spent by him working on client matters which were inaccurate, misleading and in excess of the time actually spent on the client matters against which they were recorded.
- Between March 2020 and November 2022, Mr Devlin authorised the withdrawal of client monies without having sent corresponding invoices to the relevant client or paying party.
The allegations are subject to a Hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven.
Decision - Control of practice
Outcome: Condition
Outcome date: 14 December 2023
Published date: 19 January 2024
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Cartmell Shepherd Limited
Address(es): Viaduct House, Carlisle, CA3 8EZ
Firm ID: 618960
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Nicholas Devlin's practising certificate for 2023/2024 is subject to the following conditions:
- Mr Devlin may not act as a manager of an authorised body.
- Mr Devlin may act as a solicitor only as an employee, and only where the employment has first been approved by us.
- Mr Devlin may not act as signatory to any client or office account and cannot authorise payments or transfers from any client or office account.
- Mr Devlin is not to act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or a compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.
- Mr Devlin may not practise on his own account under regulation 10.2(a) or (b) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations.
In these conditions the terms are as defined in the SRA Glossary.
Reasons/basis
The above interim conditions are made under rule 3.2 of the SRA Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedure Rules, which states that at any stage an authorised decision maker may, pending a final decision by the SRA or the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, impose interim conditions on the practising certificate of a solicitor. We are satisfied that these conditions are necessary in the public interest or for the protection of the public.