Solicitors
Solicitor caught in TV sham marriage sting struck off
A solicitor who was recorded by an undercover reporter giving advice on what he knew was a sham marriage has been struck off by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
SDT to move to civil standard of proof
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal is to move from the criminal to the civil standard of proof and rejected suggestions that this will result in “easier prosecutions”.
Conveyancers “underquoting to win business”, SRA suggests
Some conveyancing law firms are providing unrealistic initial quotes in order to win business and most cause unnecessary enquiries from the Land Registry, SRA research has suggested.
Solicitor fined £45,000 for putting son’s interests before clients
A solicitor who used his role in a collective enfranchisement process to push his son’s interests at the expense of other clients has been fined £45,000 by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Weinstein NDA solicitor referred to disciplinary tribunal
A solicitor at City firm Allen & Overy involved in drafting a non-disclosure agreement involving film producer Harvey Weinstein has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
High Court strikes off overcharging solicitor
The High Court has struck off a solicitor who instituted a practice of “gross overcharging” in clinical negligence cases so as to maximise profits, overturning a fine imposed by a disciplinary tribunal.
Discriminatory instruction barrister: Fault is system’s not solicitor’s
The Asian woman barrister who was disinstructed after her client wanted a white man to represent her has said she does not blame the solicitor involved.
Loans made by firms before interventions do not go to SRA
The right to recover money under loans made by a law firm before an intervention does not vest in the Solicitors Regulation Authority, appeal judges have ruled.
Solicitors must think about “impression created” by NDAs
Solicitors must think beyond the drafting of non-disclosure agreements and confidentiality agreements to the “impression created” by them, a panel of experts has warned.
Tax fraud solicitor proclaims innocence as he accepts strike-off
A solicitor currently in jail for his part in a fraudulent tax evasion scheme has agreed to be struck off while insisting that he did nothing more than “major English law firms” do for clients every day.
Developers pledge proper legal advice for leaseholders
More than 40 leading property developers and freeholders – but no lawyers as yet – have signed a government-backed pledge that highlights the duty of conveyancers to act in the best interests of clients.
Solicitors escape tribunal after admitting multiple rule breaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has discontinued disciplinary tribunal proceedings against two solicitors after they admitted multiple accounts rules breaches.
Brazilian Ponzi scheme solicitor struck off
A solicitor prosecuted for his involvement in a Ponzi scheme – and for the second time over the same set of facts related to a collapsed overseas investment scheme – has this time been struck off.
Solicitor who lied to Mueller inquiry referred to SDT
A solicitor who was jailed for 30 days after pleading guilty to making false statements to the Mueller inquiry has been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
Judge highlights “paradox” between solicitors’ honesty and integrity
Acting without integrity involves “greater moral turpitude” on the part of a solicitor than dishonesty but a lesser sanction, a High Court judge has ruled, while appearing to question previous authority.