Timothy Ian Millar

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Timothy Ian Millar, a sole practitioner, was found guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor on seven counts including accounts rules breaches, failing to give client care/costs information, overcharging on telegraphic transfer fees without disclosing profit, failing to file his Accountant's Report, failing to respond to the SRA, and abandoning his practice (intervened into November 2007). He did not appear. No dishonesty was alleged. Given the seriousness, particularly the abandonment, the Tribunal imposed an indefinite suspension effective 14 October 2008 and ordered costs of £1,748.75.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Proper termination and return of instructions
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports

Aggravating factors:

• Previous appearance before the Tribunal in 1995 (reprimanded for accounts rules breaches)
• Abandonment of practice causing inconvenience to clients
• Persistent failure to respond to SRA correspondence and monitoring visit

Mitigating factors:

• No dishonesty alleged
• Tribunal did not know the cause of the abandonment; indefinite suspension left open the opportunity to explain and show rehabilitation