Carter-Ruck partner pursues SRA for £1m over failed ‘SLAPP’ case
Regulator warns that ‘eye-watering’ costs order would have a ‘chilling’ effect on its ability to go after media lawyers.
Solicitor cleared but paralegal barred over misleading emails
Solicitor had denied authorising misleading emails about conveyancing transactions.
Solicitor cleared of telling client to fabricate defence in cricket match-fixing case
No evidence to show that criminal lawyer Shahid Ali encouraged his client, a former professional cricketer, to lie.
Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Solicitor lied to judge about appearing from Germany
'To mislead a judge in court is a serious misconduct,' SDT rules in strike-off decision.
SRA to pay £160,000 costs after 'misconceived' pursuit of veteran solicitor
Regulator’s case ‘lacked any proper foundation in law or fact’, tribunal rules.
Young solicitor suspended over amendment to handover note
Tribunal found solicitor’s ‘dishonesty was brief, confined to a single matter [and] unaccompanied by gain to the solicitor or actual harm to the client’.
Solicitor who recorded false time entries for legal aid struck off
Former practitioner at national criminal defence firm claimed 133 days of working more than 24 hours.
Drunken kiss not misconduct, SDT finds
Workplace culture 'lacked appropriate safeguards and encouraged excessive drinking'.
Non-practising solicitor struck off for dishonest criminal case work
Gavin Clarke said his judgement was impaired by personal and professional difficulties.
SDT throws out Carter-Ruck 'SLAPP' case
SRA's prosecution ‘based on hindsight rather than evidence of professional misconduct’, tribunal finds.
Carter-Ruck partner applies for 'SLAPP' charge dismissal
Defamation specialist 'cannot be professionally responsible for any falsity' in client's instructions, tribunal hears.
Hamlins partner cleared in closely watched 'SLAPPs' case
Christopher Mark Hutchings, of London firm Hamlins LLP, cleared of misconduct following private hearing.
Solicitor who failed to spot 'sophisticated' fraud fined £15,000
Paul Edmund Levy acted in two loan transactions worth around £464,000 that bore hallmarks of fraud.
Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Society to research feasibility of independent defence union
Committee of inquiry issues recommendations on supporting solicitors subject to disciplinary proceedings.
Practice conditions lifted on ex-magic circle lawyer twice cautioned for cocaine possession
Practitioner had failed to disclose a second police caution to his employers in 2018.
Solicitor struck off for using brother's drug money to pay mortgage
Judge in fraud trial told practitioner he had thrown his career away.
Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
SDT was entitled to penalise 'without prejudice' solicitor, appeal hears
Mrs Justice Collins Rice, sitting in the Royal Courts of Justice, reserves judgment following day-long hearing.
Solicitor appeals SDT sanction over 'without prejudice' email
There is nothing wrong with wanting to try to settle cases confidentially, High Court hears.
Ex-solicitor refused restoration 16 years after strike-off
Applicant did not demonstrate a sustained commitment to training, Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal finds.
SDT declines late application to open 'SLAPP' case to public
Panel had considered objections to private sitting decision - following the breach of an anonymity order - a month earlier.
Solicitor cleared over cut-price sale of 82-year-old's home
SDT says practitioners cannot be expected to second-guess instructions of client with full mental capacity.
Solicitor lied to secure a company loan
Conduct was relevant to professional standing even though director was not practising at the time, tribunal finds.
Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Solicitor cleared of any wrongdoing over costs
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal finds schedule ‘reflected the agreement in place at the relevant time’.
Solicitor's 'cherished' sole practice destroyed by fraudsters
Owner of Oxfordshire firm suspended for 18 months after failing to carry out 'rudimentary identity checks'.
Immigration solicitor struck off after admitting misleading asylum client
Partner’s removal from the roll was the ‘only appropriate and proportionate sanction’, SDT says.
Magic circle junior who lied in his pupillage application struck off
Former Slaughter and May associate claimed to have won prize for best overall performance during his final Cambridge year.
Decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal)
Solicitor who advised both prosecution witness and defendant suspended
Criminal defence lawyer’s two-month suspension, imposed by the SDT, commenced in July this year.
Firm boss struck off for taking client money and issuing bad cheques
Immigration firm sole principal who misappropriated £160,000 admits all allegations against him.
Decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Ex-solicitor fails in costly bid to return to profession
Tribunal says former sole practitioner has refused to acknowledge that original findings were correct.
Strike-off for misleading divorce client and firm
Solicitor of 18 years maintained pretence for three months that she was awaiting requested information.
Ex-solicitor caught in immigration sting barred from further litigation
Former practitioner struck off in 2023 has an ‘inability to accept defeat’, High Court finds following nine totally without merit orders.
Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
‘SLAPPs’ SDT case to be heard in private following anonymity order breach
Three-person panel found it could not ‘adequately protect’ client privilege in a public session following breach by newspaper.
PI solicitor struck off for concealing 'catastrophic' medical records
Solicitor of 23 years feared that medical records would open client up to 'fundamental dishonesty' attack.
Decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal)
Manager of firm caught in Mail sting sanctioned for 'woeful' staff supervision
Duncan Ellis solicitor said his approach to supervision ‘was to avoid micromanagement’, but the SDT found he had been reckless.
Solicitor who hid case collapse for 10 years admits lies
Clinical negligence practitioner talked about getting medical reports for case that had long since ended.
Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
SDT restricts foreign lawyer who 'crossed professional boundaries'
Spanish lawyer also ordered to pay more than £60,000 in costs.
Carter-Ruck ‘engaged in furtherance of fraud’ by clients, SDT finds
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal allows disclosure of documents relating to alleged SLAPP.
Late-qualified solicitor 'out of his depth' before career-ending mistake
Activity log revealed that practitioner removed client email to conceal fact he had not dealt with it.
Decisions and interventions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Rookie solicitor working in 'chaotic' firm cleared of dishonesty
Newly-qualified Colchester practitioner had little understanding of how court processes worked.
Family law head cleared of misleading client over decree nisi
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal decides there was ‘no active misleading’ and senior practitioner had not acted recklessly.
Family law head did not mislead clients, SDT hears
Solicitor denies acting dishonestly or recklessly in relation to keeping a client informed on her decree nisi.
Suspension for failing to properly assess client’s capacity
SDT also orders London sole practitioner pay £21,129.60 costs.
Family law head who allegedly misled client over decree nisi faces SDT
Solicitor denies charges of acting recklessly in 2019 divorce case.
Decisions
Decisions filed recently with the Law Society (which may be subject to appeal).
Managing partner suspended after backdating letter
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal also orders solicitor pay £24,885 in costs.
Legal aid solicitor reprimanded over accounts rule breach
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal also orders long-serving practitioner to pay £8,000 costs.
Junior suspended over single alteration to email
Regulator accepts inexperienced solicitor acted in panic and haste.
Disability rights solicitor struck off over hidden property assets
Tribunal says lawyer was dishonest and motivated by financial gain.
Solicitor struck off for stealing £85,000 from vulnerable clients
Swindon solicitor who was jailed for two years misappropriated cash through ATM withdrawals and bank transfers to her own account.