Philip ProctorAdmitted 1974Application 7968/1999Hearing, 25 January 2000;reasons, 17 March 2000

The SDT reprimanded the respondent, of 42 Upper Berkeley St, London W1X 5DB, who at the material time practised in a partnership, for unbefitting conduct, in that he had delivered an accountant's report late, contrary to s.34 of the Solicitors Act 1974; and he had failed to reply to letters from the OSS.

In June 1997, the SDT had imposed a penalty of 2,000 on the respondent for breach of the accounts rules and unbefitting conduct (allegations had also been brought against another); and in September 1988 a penalty of 3,500 had been imposed on him for failing to respond promptly to correspondence and failing to pay counsel's fees promptly.

The subject matter of the January 2000 allegations had occurred at the same time as that supporting the 1998 allegations; had the January 2000 allegations been before the SDT with the 1998 matters, no greater penalty would have been imposed in 1998.

The respondent was ordered to pay 571 costs.