Date
3 July 2026
Decision:
Indefinite Exclusion
Details of conduct / charges
Charge 1
Contrary to: Principle 2, Outcome 2.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct Ruth Ferreira failed to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct and justify public trust in her, her profession, and the provision of legal services by engaging in conduct which could undermine or affect adversely the confidence and trust placed in her and her profession by her client, her employer, professional colleagues, the public and others.
Particulars
Ruth Ferreria engaged in conduct, which led to a published decision by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) on 12 March 2024 to disqualify her from acting as a Head of Legal Practice, Head of Finance and Administration, a manager or an employee of a body licensed under section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007. The SRA’s decision remains published on its website as at the date of this statement and refers to Ms Ferreira’s status as a Chartered Legal Executive at the time of her conduct.
Charge 2
Contrary to: Principle 3, Outcomes 3.1 and 3.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct Ruth Ferreira failed to behave with honesty and integrity and be honest in all her dealings and intentionally misled those she dealt with.
Particulars
- Between September 2021 and April 2022, Ruth Ferreira misled the executors of an estate by advising them that she had made an application to Equiniti to transfer shares held in the deceased’s name when she had not.
- Between September 2021 and April 2022, Ruth Ferreira fabricated and sent a letter purporting to be from Equiniti to Irwin Mitchell dated February 2022 stating that the shares had been transferred on 18 January 2023 to the executors of the estate.
- Between March 2021 and April 2022, Ruth Ferreira misled the beneficiaries of an estate by advising them that she had completed the inheritance tax account and submitted it to HMRC in August 2021, when no such application had been made.
Charge 3
Contrary to: Principle 4, Outcomes 4.1 and 4.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct Ruth Ferreira failed to comply with her legal and regulatory obligations and deal with her regulator openly, promptly and co-operatively; failed to comply with the law applicable to her; and failed to take all practicable steps to ensure that she had adhered to the core Principles and met the associated Outcome of the Code.
Particulars
Ruth Ferreira failed to comply with her duty under Rules 11(1)(g) and 12 of the CILEx Regulation Enforcement Rules to declare as prior conduct, at the earliest opportunity, that she was the subject of an investigation and proceedings by the Solicitors Regulation Authority concerning her fitness to practice. Ruth Ferreira failed to declare as prior conduct, at the earliest opportunity, that the Solicitors Regulation Authority reached a decision to disqualify her from acting as a Head of Legal Practice, Head of Finance and Administration, a manager or an employee of a body licensed under Section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Outcome
The Disciplinary Tribunal found the above three charges proven on the balance of probabilities.
Sanction – Indefinite Exclusion
In accordance with Rule 30(5)(a)(iv) of the CILEx Regulation Enforcement Rules, the Disciplinary Tribunal ordered that Ruth Ferreira be excluded from membership of CILEX for an indefinite period.
