Anthony Thomas Freer

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

Anthony Thomas Freer, admitted 1994, was found guilty of conduct unbefitting a solicitor for repeatedly failing to file Accountant's Reports for years ending March 2001, 2002 and 2003 and failing to respond to OSS correspondence. Having appeared before the Tribunal in 2003 for similar failings (fined £2,500) and given assurances he would rectify matters, he remained in continuing breach, only filing outstanding Reports on the day of the hearing. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated (uncontested via his fax admission) and, noting he was warned leniency could not be expected, struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £2,185. No dishonesty was found.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports

Aggravating factors:

• Continuing breach despite assurance given to earlier Tribunal in 2003
• Prior disciplinary appearance in 2003 for similar failures where he had been warned leniency could not be expected
• Reports only filed at the eleventh hour, on the day of the hearing
• No medical evidence or cogent explanation provided
• Persistent failure in important regulatory matters
• Still asserted holding client money of some £17,500

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the allegations
• Apologised to the Tribunal
• Breaches attributed to inertia rather than deliberate conduct
• Eventually filed the outstanding Reports