Ellie
Walters
Employee
7659238
Decision - Employee-related decision
Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)
Outcome date: 25 February 2026
Published date: 7 April 2026
Firm details
Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Optima Legal Services Limited
Address(es): Suite 5a West Village, 114 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 1BA, England
Firm ID: 441547
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Who does this decision relate to?
Ellie Walters, who is not a solicitor and was employed by Optima Legal Services Limited, a licensed body, as a Planning and MI Administrator between October 2019 and July 2025.
Summary of decision
The SRA has disqualified Ellie Walters from holding any of the following roles in law firms regulated by the SRA:
- Head of Legal Practice
- Head of Finance and Administration
- A manager
- An employee
The facts of the case
In June 2025, Ms Walters was arrested and subsequently charged in relation to being concerned in the supply of drugs.
On 5 June 2025, at Leeds Magistrates Court, Ms Walters pleaded guilty and was convicted of the following offences contrary to sections 4(3)(b) and 5(3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, section 46 of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, and section 327(1) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002:
- Concerned in the supply of heroin
- Concerned in the supply of crack cocaine
- Possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A (Heroin)
- Possession with intent to supply a controlled drug of Class A (Crack cocaine)
- Possess an offensive weapon in a private place
- Conceal/ disguise/ convert/ transfer/ remove criminal property.
She was sentenced to 4 years 8 months imprisonment.
Our decision on sanction
Ms Walters’ conduct breached relevant duties that applied to her as an employee of a licensed body, namely Principles 1, 2 and 5 of the SRA Principles 2019.
It was found that it would be undesirable for Ms Walters to act as a Head of Legal Practice, Head of Finance and Administration, a manager or an employee of a body licensed in accordance with section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Ms Walters was disqualified from holding any of these roles.
She was also directed to pay costs of £600.
SRA Principles 2019
Principle 1: You act in a way that upholds the constitutional principle of the rule of law, and the proper administration of justice.
Principle 2: You act in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors’ profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons.
Principle 5: You act with integrity.