Michael Peter Goodwin

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

Michael Peter Goodwin, a solicitor at Talbots Law Ltd's Residential Property team, admitted that on 18 July 2023 he altered the email address shown in a forwarded email to give the false impression that an earlier (17 July 2023) email to Client A had been sent to her correct address, when it had been sent to an incorrect address. The Tribunal found this conduct dishonest and in breach of Principles 2, 4 and 5 and Paragraph 1.4 of the Code. Although a finding of dishonesty normally requires strike-off, the Tribunal found exceptional circumstances: the dishonesty was confined to a single, brief, isolated act causing no harm to the client, with minimal benefit to the Respondent, and was influenced by his ill health. The matter was resolved by agreed outcome. The Respondent was suspended from practice for 12 months (commencing 19 June 2025) and ordered to pay costs of £12,500. The Tribunal heard the matter in private but refused (by majority) the unopposed application for anonymity in the published judgment.

Duties found breached:

• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Respondent knew his conduct was in material breach of his obligations to protect the reputation of the legal profession

Mitigating factors:

• No loss or detriment to the client
• Respondent self-reported the matter to the SRA
• Single episode of very brief duration in a previously unblemished career
• Demonstrated insight and remorse
• Made open and frank admissions to employer and SRA
• Full co-operation with the SRA investigation
• Health problems may have contributed to impulsive decision-making
• Acted in panic/haste rather than in a planned manner
• Considerable emotional strain due to terminal illness of partner's mother