Grahame Leslie Albert Wheelband

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

Grahame Leslie Albert Wheelband, an experienced conveyancing clerk and fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives employed by Messrs Blakemores, obtained mortgages for himself and others to purchase ten properties from a developer client of the firm. The building societies were not made aware of material facts (allowances/direct deposits and that properties were let to tenants), and he acted in a position of conflict by acting for himself as purchaser while the firm acted for vendor and mortgagee. He admitted the facts but resisted the order. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated. No express finding of dishonesty was made; no financial loss occurred. The Tribunal made the Section 43 order and ordered costs of £900, while expressing hope the Law Society would favourably consider granting consent to his future employment.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• No own-interest conflict

Aggravating factors:

• Experienced legal executive and expert in conveyancing who should have known not to act in a conflict and to notify building society clients of material facts
• Availed himself of favourable terms personally

Mitigating factors:

• Long unblemished record of some thirty years in the profession
• Introduced to the proposals by a senior member of the firm (Mr Blakemore) and reported to/sought guidance from another solicitor
• Clear acceptance and admission of the facts (given due credit)
• No financial loss to anyone; all properties stood up to valuation; tax affairs in order
• Considerable delay in bringing proceedings causing anxiety
• Sense of injustice that supervising solicitors were not subject to disciplinary proceedings
• Technically able and competent with much to offer the profession