Adam Patrick Butler

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

Adam Patrick Butler, an assistant solicitor handling conveyancing for a developer client, prepared SDLT returns showing incorrect (post-dated) completion dates to avoid late-filing penalties (£100 each), including presenting a document with a false date to the client for signature. The client discovered the conduct and informed his employer. The Respondent admitted the conduct and the dishonesty. The Tribunal made an express finding of dishonesty, found all allegations substantiated, and ordered him struck off the Roll, with costs of £2,815.06.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Falsified completion dates on SDLT returns on more than one occasion over a period of time
• Presented to his client a document containing a false date for the client to sign and submit to the SDLT Office
• Conduct was not a single aberration

Mitigating factors:

• Frank and open admissions and full cooperation with The Law Society
• Acceptance that his actions were dishonest
• Acting under considerable personal and work stress including his wife's illness
• Lack of supervision when principal on holiday
• High regard from current employers and testimonials speaking of his competence and integrity
• No significant personal gain; sums involved were small (£100 penalties)
• Out-of-character behaviour