Yasmine Machin
Employee
511806

Decision - Agreement

Outcome: Regulatory settlement agreement

Outcome date: 8 September 2025

Published date: 29 September 2025

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: TAYNTONS (LS) LIMITED

Address(es): 5th Floor, Llanthony Warehouse, The Docks, GLOUCESTER, GL1 2EH

Firm ID: 449195

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by agreement.

Decision details

1. Agreed outcome

1.1 Mrs Yasmine Machin (‘Mrs Machin’), a former employee of Tayntons (LS) Limited (‘the Firm’), agrees to the following outcome to the investigation of her conduct by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (‘SRA’):

1. to the SRA making an order under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (a section 43 order) in relation to Mrs Machin that, from the date of this agreement:
   1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with their practice as a solicitor
   2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the solicitor's practice
   3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate her
   4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the business of that body
   5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to be a manager of the body
   6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such body shall permit her to have an interest in the body

except in accordance with the SRA's prior permission.

2. to the publication of this agreement
3. she will pay the costs of the investigation of £300.

2. Summary of facts

2.1 Mrs Machin, a non-authorised person, who is also a Licensed Conveyancer, was employed as the Firm’s Head of Conveyancing, beginning her employment on 7 December 2022.

2.2 In the course of her employment, Mrs Machin engaged in conduct that lacked integrity and was dishonest through the following actions:

1. On an unknown date, thought to be between 23 and 25 January 2023, she signed and dated the following documents, falsely purporting to be her colleague who also worked in the conveyancing department:
   1. borrower declaration certificate dated 23 January 2023
   2. borrower declaration certificate dated 25 January 2023
   3. solicitor verification certificate dated 23 January 2023
   4. two solicitor's certificates, a subordination deed, a buy to-let loan agreement and a legal charge relating to a client property.
2. On 25 January 2023, in an email to the other party's solicitors:
   1. she stated in response to a query about the signatures on the subordination deed and the solicitor verification certificate, that all three directors of the client were in attendance, and all paperwork was signed in her colleague’s presence when she knew that her colleague was not actually present and making this statement was false
   2. she stated that she met two directors of the client in a car park and her colleague had witnessed the signatures of two of the three directors when she knew making this statement was false
   3. certified the signatures on the documents listed in 2.2 (a) (i) and (ii) to be correct when she knew this to be false.

2.3 As a Licensed Conveyancer, Mrs Machin is regulated by The Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). Mrs Machin faced disciplinary proceedings by the CLC in regard to the above facts. The hearing concluded on 4 December 2024. The Adjudication Panel (the ‘panel’) determined that Mrs Machin’s actions lacked integrity and were dishonest. Upon finding misconduct, the panel imposed a 12-month disqualification and a costs order of £5,000. The disqualification prevents Mrs Machin from performing reserved legal activities or representing herself as an authorised conveyancer. The CLC's Decision Document contains more details.

3. Admissions

3.1 Mrs Machin makes the following admissions which the SRA accepts:

1. between 23 and 25 January 2023, she signed numerous conveyancing documents, falsely representing herself as her colleague who also worked in the conveyancing department
2. on 25 January 2023, she attempted to cover up her actions by making false statements in an email to the other party's solicitors
3. that she was involved in conduct related to the provision of legal services which means that it is undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice
4. that her conduct set out above lacked integrity and was dishonest.

4. Why a section 43 order is appropriate

4.1 The SRA’s Enforcement Strategy and its guidance on how it regulates non-authorised persons, sets out its approach to using section 43 orders to control where a non-authorised person can work.

4.2 When considering whether a section 43 order is appropriate in this matter, the SRA has taken into account the admissions made by Mrs Machin and the following mitigation which she has put forward:

1. she has admitted the facts of the allegation to the SRA and cooperated with its investigation
2. she has expressed insight and remorse into her conduct.

4.3 The SRA and Mrs Machin agree that a section 43 order is appropriate because:

1. Mrs Machin is not a solicitor
2. she was undertaking work in the name of, or under the direction or supervision of, a solicitor, meaning that she was involved in legal practice
3. dishonestly signing several conveyancing documents in a colleague’s name and attempting to cover up her actions by making false statements to the other party's solicitors makes it undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice.

4.4 The conduct occurred while she was involved in a legal practice working as the Head of Conveyancing. According to the SRA Enforcement Strategy, conduct or behaviour which demonstrates a lack of honesty or integrity are at the highest end of the spectrum, in a 'profession whose reputation depends on trust'. Mrs Machin’s actions are likely to undermine public confidence in the delivery of legal services if she were to work in an SRA-regulated firm without prior permission from the SRA.

5. Publication

5.1 The SRA considers it appropriate that this agreement is published in the interests of transparency in the regulatory process. Mrs Machin agrees to the publication of this agreement.

6. Acting in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement

6.1 Mrs Machin agrees that she will not deny the admissions made in this agreement or act in any way which is inconsistent with it.

6.2 If Mrs Machin denies the admissions or acts in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement, the conduct which is subject to this agreement may be considered further by the SRA. That may result in a disciplinary outcome or a referral to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal on the original facts and allegations.

6.3 Denying the admissions made or acting in a way which is inconsistent with this agreement may also constitute a separate breach of principles 2 and 5 of the Principles.

7. Costs

7.1 Mrs Machin agrees to pay the costs of the SRA's investigation in the sum of £300. Such costs are due within 28 days of a statement of costs due being issued by the SRA.

1.1 Mrs Yasmine Machin (‘Mrs Machin’), a former employee of Tayntons (LS) Limited (‘the Firm’), agrees to the following outcome to the investigation of her conduct by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (‘SRA’):

1. to the SRA making an order under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (a section 43 order) in relation to Mrs Machin that, from the date of this agreement:
   1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with their practice as a solicitor
   2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the solicitor's practice
   3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate her
   4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the business of that body
   5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to be a manager of the body
   6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such body shall permit her to have an interest in the body

except in accordance with the SRA's prior permission.