Rodney Alan ShiersAdmitted 1976Application 7960/1999Hearing, 1 February 2000;reasons, 5 April 2000

The SDT imposed penalties totalling 6,000 on the respondent, of 32-34 Rose Hill, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 1LR, who had practised in a partnership, on his own account, and again in a partnership, for unbefitting conduct in that (i) he had acted in a deceitful manner and contrary to his fiduciary duty and contrary to r.1 of the Solicitors Practice Rules 1988; and (ii) he had acted (or continued to act) in circumstances where a conflict of interests had arisen (or might have arisen) between clients, contrary to r.1.

The respondent was a competent solicitor who enjoyed a high reputation; the allegations represented a single, isolated complaint and there was no suggestion of personal gain or benefit.

A penalty of 4,000 was imposed in respect of allegation (i), and a lesser penalty (2,000) was imposed in respect of allegation (ii) as the conflict of interests had not become apparent until late in the day.

The respondent was ordered to pay 2,700 costs.