Solicitors fined for ‘cavalier’ approach to accounts
Two solicitors must pay almost £40,000 in fines and legal costs between them.
Tribunal rails at ‘wholly discredited’ witness relied upon by SRA
Most serious charges dropped after SDT finds serious flaws with submissions from lying former client.
Veteran solicitor ‘borrowed’ thousands from client with dementia
Phillip York struck off after tribunal found he was dishonest in his handling of estate.
Baker McKenzie boss 'dictated' apology note to HR chief
Former London managing partner Gary Senior continues to be cross-examined at start of second week of tribunal hearing.
Dishonest solicitor struck off claims she was not supported by firm
Tribunal hears that Bethany Reay also felt threatened by clients who would not take 'No' for an answer.
Decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Baker McKenzie lawyer questions Gary Senior over emails
Former London managing partner acknowledges that correspondence read cold several years later 'looks odd'.
Gary Senior 'micro-managed' investigation, tribunal told
Former managing partner cross-examined on third day of a hearing into allegations of sexual harassment dating from 2012.
Former Baker McKenzie chief admits 'inappropriate' behaviour
Gary Senior cross-examined in case brought over incident of alleged sexual harassment involving junior associate.
Baker McKenzie didn't brush Person A under the carpet, tribunal hears
Witness says she waited outside hotel room - but Gary Senior's request to be alone with an associate did not trigger alarm bells.
Person A felt ‘cast aside’ by Baker McKenzie to protect firm’s reputation
Tribunal hears testimony from female associate who was kissed by managing partner in a hotel room.
‘Not my finest hour’: Solicitor fined after taking 14 years over estate
Tribunal finds Bedford-based veteran practitioner 'lost control of his administrative workload'.
Solicitor ‘out of his depth’ misled clients to buy time on difficult case
Former director with Newcastle firm admits misconduct and agrees to be struck off.
PI solicitor helped client who wanted to hide damages from husband
Geoffrey Hart said his judgement was impaired at the time of the misconduct but agrees to be struck off.
Hearing adjourned for ex-City partner accused over 'untrue' billable hours claim
Five-day hearing involving ex-Taylor Wessing partner Tracey Ann Sheehan was due to begin yesterday.
SDT: Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Solicitor hiked hourly rate tenfold as property deal stalled
Tribunal finds conveyancer acted unreasonably in not ensuring he completed his undertaking after other party's mistake.
SDT decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Barrister suspended following sanction from SDT
Dual qualified practitioner was found to have breached solicitors accounts rules.
Flight delay solicitors sold ATE insurance through broker they owned
Tribunal fines directors of FairPlane a total of £55,000 after finding they allowed a conflict of interest.
Three from same firm sanctioned over 'dubious investment' advice
Fee earner struck off and two others fined over breaches to SRA accounts rules.
Tribunal workload slashed as SRA fails to take up sitting days
Hearing caseload expected to fall despite rise in sexual misconduct prosecutions.
Decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Serious misconduct is not always a banning offence, High Court rules
SRA fails to persuade judges to increase suspension penalty imposed on solicitor lacking in integrity.
Decisions and SRA interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Directors culpable for advice on bust property investment scheme
Solicitors said they were victims themselves of scheme that collapsed before completion.
Freshfields threatens to fine partners for 'inappropriate behaviour'
The magic circle firm is establishing a conduct committee to ensure ‘inappropriate behaviour is called out and acted upon’.
Decisions and SRA interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Solicitor struck off in High Court after SRA wins leniency appeal
Kwame Siaw had been fined £10,000 by the tribunal and not found to be dishonest.
Solicitor who missed tribunal after surgery denied rehearing
Parvez Akther, who was struck off in January, claimed he was ‘woolly headed’ after operation.
Solicitor suspended after firm waited years to pay disbursements
Jayne Greer did not know about non-payments but found responsible for allowing situation to arise.
Ban for solicitor who enabled £62k overpayment on property
Harrow-based solicitor was driven by ‘personal financial gain’ according to the SDT.
Decisions and SRA interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
SRA ‘surprised’ by Freshfields partner's punishment
Regulator hints at possible appeal as clarity sought on what sanctions must be imposed.
Jailed solicitor banned after defrauding own firm of £13k
Gregory Davies is struck off having already been sentenced to a year’s imprisonment in January.
Freshfields hearing adjourned after closing submissions
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal expected to deliver its verdict in Ryan Beckwith case tomorrow.
City lawyer misled firm for over a year about passing exam
Tribunal does not accept Michael Freeman’s submission he was too scared to admit failure.
Father and son barristers disciplined for disclosure failures
Naseem Bajwa did not tell the bar regulator about a previous run-in with the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
'Person A' instigated contact, tribunal hears
Sixth day of hearing into conduct of Freshfields partner hears cross-examination by prosecution.
Beckwith: Freshfields partner resigns as SDT fines him £35,000
Ryan Beckwith was accused of sexual misconduct involving a junior female colleague.
SDT decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
‘She was not too drunk to decide’: Beckwith denies taking advantage
Freshfields partner says he would never contemplate abusing his position as high-profile tribunal case continues.
Freshfields' Beckwith: I didn't kiss colleague after boozy firm outing
Hearing continues into allegations of misconduct against married magic circle partner.
'Wheels came off' for Person A after incident with Freshfields colleague, SDT told
Former flatmate gives evidence on fourth day of hearing in case against magic circle partner Ryan Beckwith.
'I blamed myself': Person A describes feelings after alleged Freshfields incidents
Woman at centre of allegations against magic circle partner Ryan Beckwith cross-examined over her own conduct.
'Person A' quizzed on 'notorious private members' club'
Third day of hearing of allegations against Freshfields partner Ryan Beckwith.
Ex-partner pays firm £24,000 after admitting expenses dishonesty
Igor Krivoshekov is struck off the roll following an agreed outcome with the SRA.
Freshfields misconduct case adjourned
Ryan Beckwith is facing charges over his conduct towards a female junior colleague.
SDT decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Tribunal ‘extremely troubled’ by SRA investigator’s inadequate evidence
Bulk of case against experienced solicitor is thrown out following criticism.
Axiom ‘debacle’: SRA faces £81k costs bill after failed prosecution
Case against former business and marketing boss had been sent back to the tribunal by the High Court.
Solicitor who created fake claimant is struck off
Shuaib Saeed said the 'victim' should be paid almost £4,000 of compensation.
Solicitor struck off in 2013 for repeated misconduct is readmitted
John Parker Swindell did ‘all he could to restore his reputation’ in the six years after his strike off.
Solicitor gifted £404k in client wills ‘preyed on vulnerable’
Jonathan Leslie Horner ‘massively damaged the reputation of the profession’.
Estates solicitor struck off after undervaluing client assets by £50k
Tribunal hears Richard Steven Davies took more than double the costs that appeared in estate accounts.
SDT decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Struck-off solicitor who misled client was dishonest, rules judge
Norwich solicitor fails in attempt to have SDT decision overturned.
Tribunal fines solicitor found in contempt over breached court order
Mohammed Younis said he acted out of a promise made to his father.
Right to be forgotten… in 60 years’ time
SDT updates its judgment publication policy.
