Jenny Chen-Yiu Liu

• Application 10825-2011
• Admitted 1997
• Hearing 8 March 2012
• Reasons 13 April 2012

The SDT ordered that the respondent should be suspended from practice as a solicitor for an indefinite period to commence on 8 March 2012.

On 13 December 2010, at Blackfriars Crown Court, the respondent had been convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice, in breach of rule 1.02 and 1.06 of the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007. The SDT considered that it was a very sad case. It was clear that the respondent had allowed herself to be manipulated. In particular, the SDT noted the remarks of the sentencing judge who had commented ‘… you [the respondent] fell under the spell of… one of the most manipulative criminals I have come across’.

The respondent had accepted full responsibility for her mistake and it was clear from her letter of mitigation that she felt deep remorse for what she had done.

The SDT was mindful of its duty to protect the public and the reputation of the profession. Given the particular circumstances of the case, the SDT decided that it would not entirely ‘close the door’ to the respondent in the future, but her misconduct was so serious that, while the SDT would not impose the ultimate sanction of a strike-off, it was appropriate to impose a period of indefinite suspension.

The respondent was ordered to pay costs of £837.