John Dowdeswell

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

Edmunds & Co Solicitors' sole equity partner (First Respondent) admitted failing to supervise an unadmitted conveyancer (Second Respondent) and failing to ensure material facts were reported to lender client DB Mortgages in two sub-sale property transactions involving third-party deposit funding. The Second Respondent denied but effectively admitted failing to report material facts under the CML Handbook. The Tribunal proved all allegations to the criminal standard. No dishonesty was alleged or found. As the First Respondent had already been (erroneously) removed from the Roll, the only available order was one preventing restoration except by Tribunal order; the Second Respondent received a s43 order controlling his employment. Costs of £17,500 were split equally, £8,750 each.

Duties found breached:

• Report serious misconduct of others
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Second Respondent was an experienced conveyancer with nearly 30 years' experience who must have known the CML Handbook requirements
• Failures involved undisclosed material facts affecting lender clients across two transactions

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary matters against either Respondent
• No dishonesty alleged or found; no financial gain by the Second Respondent
• First Respondent recovering from major surgery and in fragile health; not familiar with conveyancing and asserted matters were hidden from her
• Wrongdoing not carried out personally by the First Respondent