Andrew GibbAdmitted 1975Application 7984/1999Hearing, 1 February 2000;reasons, 5 April 2000

The SDT suspended the respondent, of Hill Farm Cottage, Gressenhall, Dereham, Norfolk NR19 2 NR, who had practised in a partnership and later as an employed solicitor, from practice for 18 months on 1 February 2000 for unbefitting conduct, in that he had sought to persuade a client to swear an affidavit which the respondent knew would be untrue, contrary to r.1 of the Solicitors Practice Rules 1990; in those circumstances, he had advised the client to take steps which would actively result in deception of the court, contrary to r.1; he had deceived (or improperly misled) a client in indicating in litigation that a defence had been filed and the matter referred to arbitration, contrary to r.1; he had deceived (or sought to deceive) his partner as to the position in relation to litigation and other matters, contrary to his duty of good faith; and, where a conflict of interests had arisen between himself and a client, he had continued to act (or sought to continue to act) and he had failed to advise the client to take independent advice.

The respondent was ordered to pay costs (to be assessed).