A City lawyer specialising in fraud cases has been dismissed after ‘wrongly’ claiming more than £1m in expenses from his firm.

Christopher Grierson was removed from the partnership at Hogan Lovells after the firm concluded an investigation.

Lovells said Grierson, who qualified as a solicitor 35 years ago, has agreed to pay back the full sum within 14 days after cooperating with the firm’s inquiries.

The matter has been reported to the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Hogan Lovells said it will work with the regulator on its investigation.

No clients were affected by Grierson’s claims, the firm said.

‘Christopher acted entirely on his own,’ said a Hogan Lovells spokesman.

‘We are very clear as to our professional responsibilities as solicitors and we have promptly taken the appropriate action.’

The SRA said Hogan Lovells had acted ‘promptly’ in reporting the matter and was fully cooperating with it.

It is understood the firm will now look at possible reform of internal controls in light of the investigation.

The Gazette understands that Grierson has declined to comment.