Alexander William Bruce Lee

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

Mr Lee, a solicitor and partner at Buss Murton Law, acted as sole director and Security Trustee of GST (protecting bondholders of London Capital & Finance) while also acting as solicitor for LCF. The Tribunal found this created a significant risk of an own interest conflict because his fiduciary duties to bondholders were diametrically opposed to his duties to LCF. The Tribunal found the single allegation proved in its entirety, finding breaches of Outcome 3.4 and Principles 2 (integrity) and 6. The Tribunal rejected the 'bad faith/moral turpitude' test for integrity, applying Wingate instead. No dishonesty was alleged or found; Mr Lee was not aware of and not a party to LCF's fraudulent Ponzi scheme. The conduct was assessed as very serious (Fine Band 4), resulting in a £30,000 fine and £50,000 costs (reduced from £88,254.40).

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Continuation of the misconduct over time
• Continuation despite clear red flags indicating an actual conflict
• Conflict obvious from the outset
• Mr Lee acted against his better judgment
• Knew or ought to have known conduct breached obligations

Mitigating factors:

• Showed some insight into misconduct
• Full cooperation with the SRA and proceedings
• Previously unblemished career (admitted NZ 1984, England & Wales 1991)
• Not a party to or aware of the underlying fraud
• Significant delay in proceedings not attributable to Mr Lee