Anthony Masters Williamson

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

Anthony Masters Williamson, a sole practitioner solicitor, faced eleven allegations of conduct unbefitting a solicitor arising from a Law Society inspection, including conflicts of interest (drawing a will benefiting himself, purchasing property and a car from clients, acting for lenders on his own purchase), inadequate supervision of two offices, lack of a complaints procedure, failure to provide costs/client care information, overcharging vulnerable elderly clients, failure to register an Enduring Power of Attorney, failing to follow mortgage lenders' instructions and signing inaccurate Certificates of Title, and providing for a £1,000 executor payment for a non-existent trust. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated but, because the Respondent's solicitors had twice stated no dishonesty was alleged and there was no clear prior warning, expressly declined to make a finding of dishonesty. The Tribunal found the misconduct, particularly towards elderly and vulnerable clients, gravely serious and damaging to the profession's reputation, and ordered that he be struck off the Roll and pay costs subject to detailed assessment.

Duties found breached:

• Act only on proper, lawful instructions
• Complaints procedure and handling
• Costs and fee transparency to client
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper benefit, loan or bequest
• No improper solicitation or touting
• No own-interest conflict
• No taking unfair advantage
• Not mislead the court

Aggravating factors:

• Many of the affected clients were elderly and vulnerable with no relatives
• Previous on-site certificate had warned him about billing practices on Power of Attorney matters
• Persistent and material breaches across numerous matters
• Blatant disregard of professional rules designed to protect the public
• Failure to appreciate the seriousness of his conduct, particularly allegation (i)

Mitigating factors:

• Restored over £50,000 (principal plus interest) to the C estate
• Obtained retrospective consents from lenders
• Refunded mark-up to one client
• No client complaints and books of account compliant with Accounts Rules
• Took steps to rectify supervision and complaints procedure following inspection
• Aged 65 and retired from practice
• Family tragedy and serious illness