Judiciary seeks SDT recruitment scrutineer
Revelation appears in new protocol for the appointment of members of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Accountant jailed for £400k City firm fraud banned from working in law
Management accountant dishonestly appropriated £400,000 from international firm Clyde & Co.
Fake signature trainee to appeal ban decision in the High Court
Henna Zeb Khan represented herself at two-day Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hearing in February.
Solicitor banned for faking signatures while a trainee
Tribunal rejects plea that junior practitioner was acting on instruction from more experienced colleague.
Struck-off junior solicitor Claire Matthews to have case re-heard by SDT
Claire Matthews granted another hearing after medical evidence presented to the SRA.
Decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Former Cubism boss banned after falsely invoicing clients to prop up firm
Andrew Pena expresses remorse for actions in the build-up to collapse of his firm.
Junior lawyer suspended over email sent in ‘moment of blind panic’
Solicitor qualified less than six months misleadingly said email had been blocked by firewall.
SRA to bear £65k costs of bungled Hong Kong prosecution
In case centring on defective translation, tribunal did not accept solicitor was calling for political opponents to be killed.
Decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Veteran firm owner struck off for dishonest transfer spree
Solicitor made 22 improper transfers from his firm’s client account in 2019 and prevaricated when challenged.
Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
SRA has £54k wiped off costs after ‘disproportionate’ prosecution
Tribunal opts not to fine or suspend husband and wife over handling of property transactions.
Solicitor fined over ‘colourful’ phone exchange with client
Birmingham practitioner agrees to penalty after admitting to being abusive during call.
Law firm owner struck off over missing £175,000
West London practitioner assumed to have misappropriated money designated for stamp duty and fees.
Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Solicitor faked decree absolute and had fees paid to her account
North London practitioner also found to have charged legal aid client for family work.
Solicitor struck off in 1999 allowed back into profession
Tribunal says actions dating from when solicitor was young should not blight her whole life.
SDT decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Former Clarke Willmott partner banned over misleading client emails
Solicitor told client that settlement monies were forthcoming when he knew that was not true.
SDT decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
SDT decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Court dismisses appeal by solicitor banned over foreign harassment convictions
Former solicitor argued he had been subject to ‘extreme and cruel’ provocation from the woman he was found to have harassed.
Solicitor who misled new employer avoids permanent ban
Practitioner told firm he needed to serve a month’s notice when he had already been dismissed.
Solicitor who blamed support staff for his own failures struck off
Cornwall practitioner was dishonest about the progress of matters he was handling.
Solicitor blamed paralegal as immigration client misled for years
Bradford practitioner found to have acted dishonestly on 'numerous occasions’.
Solicitor with money laundering convictions restored to roll
Bradford practitioner succeeds with second attempt to return to profession despite opposition from SRA.
Solicitor fined £8,000 over insurance error from 12 years ago
Devon practitioner accepts penalty over non-disclosure to ATE insurance provider.
Director threatened to expose opposition witness as benefit cheat
Tribunal bans legal executive after finding actions in holiday sickness claim 'crossed the line into misconduct'.
City veteran Tony Guise struck off over dishonest transfers
All allegations against Guise, ex-chair of the Commercial Litigation Association, were found proven today.
Solicitor banned for part in legal aid translation fee fraud
London practitioner ensured work went to company owned by personal friend.
SDT decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Partner who falsely claimed to witness signature is fined
Solicitor tells tribunal that he had showed insight, regret and remorse for 2016 incident.
Guise accuses client of faking emails in ‘dishonest’ transfers case
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hears allegations of attempted incrimination.
Tribunal slashes SRA costs over ‘inordinate’ number of lawyers
Regulator applied for £42,600 costs for 'very straightforward' SDT strike-off case.
City solicitor rebuts 'concocted story' about client funds transfers
Tony Norman Guise accuses former colleague of 'blackmailing' solicitors to support complaint.
Solicitor without insurance struck off to end 46-year career
Firm continued to take on new matters despite knowing it was not covered, tribunal finds.
Prominent City solicitor accused of ‘dishonest’ transfers
Tony Norman Guise transferred over £350,000 from his firm’s client account without authorisation, tribunal hears.
SDT drops case against A&O partner due to health fears
Employment partner Mark Mansell was due to be prosecuted over his role in a high-profile non-disclosure agreement involving the disgraced Harvey Weinstein.
Law Society president to face full SDT hearing
Private prosecution brought by former client of Edwin Coe, the firm of Society president David Greene.
Solicitor struck off for 'blatant self-interest' over in-law's property
Veteran solicitor made a conscious decision not to complete a purchase, tribunal finds.
SDT decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Principal who kept firm trading with counsel fees struck off
Kent-based solicitor used counsels’ fees and money from the legal aid agency to keep firm afloat, tribunal finds.
Young solicitor avoids strike-off after ‘moment of madness’ dishonesty
Bradford solicitor handed six-month suspension after agreeing outcome with the SRA.
SRA ordered to pay £27,000 over 'heavy handed' tribunal pursuit
Tribunal finds a number of allegations against solicitor were not properly brought.
Tribunal entitled to ban solicitor despite ‘racist’ witness remarks
Judges say tribunal decision to strike off solicitor was rationally explained and based on all evidence.
SRA rules out Beckwith appeal but defiant on future prosecutions
Regulator stresses that case against City lawyer was properly brought despite court defeat.
Solicitor struck off after telling new firm she had a clean slate
Catherine Limbert had been under investigation by the SRA when she joined new firm.
SRA reveals £1m shortfall on five most expensive prosecutions
Regulator claimed more than £100,000 costs but was awarded far less by the tribunal.
SDT decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Owner agrees ban after making £47k transfers to office account
Monies were mistakenly paid to employees and unsecured creditors of Yorkshire firm.
Solicitor appeals ban based on ‘racist’ and ‘unreliable’ witness
Vidal Martin was banned following a two-week hearing at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Solicitor who touched colleague and told racist joke not a ‘significant risk’
Tribunal finds it ‘unfortunate’ that London partner did not realise his behaviour seen as predatory.
Weinstein NDA hearing will be in private, tribunal confirms
Anonymity directions will remain in place until proceedings are concluded.
SDT decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Solicitors fined over £100m car park investment scheme
Directors breached solicitors accounts rules, Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal finds.
Solicitor struck off for ignoring three-month suspension
Tribunal also sanctions law firm director who allowed solicitor to carry on working.
SDT decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Court blasts SRA for ‘alarming’ costs bill in Beckwith case
Regulator claimed costs of almost £344,000 in wake of high profile prosecution.