The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has ordered the former director of one-time legal aid giant Blavo & Co to be struck off the roll for defrauding the Legal Aid Agency.
John Blavo, admitted in 1997, was managing director of the London-headquartered firm, which had 18 offices across the country. The firm was shut down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in 2015.
The SRA accused Blavo, now 61, of providing or facilitating the provision of falsified documents to the LAA relating to client files, medical reports and tribunal decisions. It was further alleged that in 2015 he was involved in producing false documents.
The SRA also alleged that Blavo encouraged or gave instructions for the falsification of documents on two client files between 2013 and 2015.
The tribunal was told that Blavo, who was not present or represented at this week’s hearing, denied the allegations.
After hearing submissions from counsel for the SRA on Monday and Tuesday, tribunal chair William Ellerton said the panel found the allegations proven, including breaches of SRA principles and dishonesty.
Applying for costs, Andrew Tabachnik KC, for the SRA, said the costs schedule had been revised in recognition of the fact that a 10-day contested hearing had become a three-day hearing which was now concluding in two days. The tribunal was told the fixed fee element that Capsticks – which spent 431 hours on the case – was charging had been halved.
On Blavo’s financial position, Tabachnik said: ‘The essence of his position is he does not have a single penny to his name, nor assets, nor income. He is effectively surviving off the generosity of friends… We obviously do not accept what Mr Blavo says is correct just simply because he says.’
After retiring for nearly an hour to consider sanction and costs, Ellerton said the tribunal ordered that Blavo be struck off the roll of solicitors and pay costs of £72,676.
