Fake law firm French Fox Limited is closed down after financial misconduct
A fake law firm has been shut down and its boss banned from any management positions in a company for more than a decade.
Tashia Joseph, 39, from Forest Hill, was a director for law firm French Fox Limited, but has been told she cannot be involved in the management of a company after she was found to have engaged in financial misconduct.
Describing herself as a “fiduciary nominee”, Ms Joseph – who had previously served a four-year directorship disqualification – was unable to explain exactly what French Fox did, where it traded from, how many employees it had or why she was the sole shareholder.
She also said in her interview with the Official Receiver that she accepted her role with the company when she was asked by a third party.
The firm advertised on its website that they had experience in many sectors and could provide a number of services but it was not registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority and did not have permission to display the Legal 500 logo on its website.
Following complaints, French Fox was wound up in the High Court in February 2018 after a petition was submitted by the Insolvency Service following confidential investigations.
Ms Joseph was found to have opened a bank account for the law firm, under the false pretence that she had 15 years’ legal experience, before handing over the account information to a third party, including online access codes and debit card.
She was also unable to explain the money coming in and out of French Fox’s bank account, including outgoing payments of more than £166,000.
Joanna Caswell, deputy Official Receiver, said: “Having just finished a four-year disqualification, it appears that Tashia Joseph had not learnt from her previous mistake and a mere five months later began to act in a manner which lacked any integrity.
“The court took a dim view of Tashia Joseph’s actions and this ban should serve as a warning to other directors who refer to themselves as a ‘nominee director’ with the misunderstanding that they have
no responsibilities and duties as a formally appointed director.”
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