Kate Jane
Austen
Solicitor
542425
Decision - Prosecution
Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
Outcome date: 15 December 2024
Published date: 23 July 2025
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Dunn & Baker LLP
Address(es): 21 Southernhay East, Exeter EX1 1QQ
Firm ID: 605696
Firm or organisation at date of publication
Name: eEnergy Group PLC
Address(es): New City Court, 20 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RS
Firm ID: 8010105
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, whilst in practice as a Consultant Solicitor at Dunn & Baker LLP:-
On 20 January 2023 she sent three emails to client A, any or all of which, taken individually or collectively, were oppressive and/or inappropriate, in that they threatened that:
- The Firm would issue an application for an injunction if client A did not confirm in writing that she had withdrawn any complaints made.
- The Firm would issue an application for an injunction to prohibit client A from making or continuing with any complaint to the Legal Ombudsman and/or the SRA in breach of the Settlement Agreement of 16 September 2022.
- If client A breached the injunction, she would be held in contempt of Court and would be liable to imprisonment and payment of the Firm’s costs.
- If client A applied to the Courts for a determination of the Settlement Agreement, her challenge would fail, and the Firm would seek their costs of defending such a claim from her.
The allegations are subject to a Hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and are as yet unproven.