Neil Frew

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

Neil Frew, a barrister called by Middle Temple in October 2004, was convicted on 23 November 2016 of conspiracy (claiming to have used and paid a company, Legal Support Services, for interpreter services when no such agency was genuinely engaged). On 9 June 2017 he was sentenced to 24 months' imprisonment suspended for 24 months. Charges 1 and 3 concerned his dishonest conduct and criminal conviction; Charges 4 and 5 concerned failure to self-report promptly to the BSB. Charge 2 was withdrawn. The Tribunal proceeded in his absence under the Jones principles, finding he had voluntarily absented himself with full knowledge. The four remaining charges were admitted and found proved. The Tribunal found dishonesty was not compatible with practice; the dishonest conduct persisted over five years. Disbarment was ordered for Charges 1 and 3, with no separate penalty for Charges 4 and 5. No application for costs was made, so no order as to costs.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• Self-report to the regulator
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest conduct persisted for a period in excess of five years
• Criminal conviction resulting in a 24-month suspended sentence of imprisonment

Mitigating factors:

• Charges admitted
• On becoming aware of his obligation he self-reported (failure to self-report not found to be a deliberate decision to conceal)