Mark David Rowland

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

Mark David Rowland, a salaried partner at Angel & Co, dealt with the sale of an estate property and arranged to purchase it with a dismissed former employee (Mr Raiwa) for £120,000 - below valuation and £5,000 under the Stamp Duty threshold. He failed to open a file or ledger, concealed the purchasers' identities, did not place the property on the open market, and persuaded the executor partners to sign an incomplete transfer form, deceiving them. He later transferred the property into his sole name with a mortgage prohibiting buy-to-let, having let the property without informing the mortgagee. He repaid £10,000 to the firm. Allegations (a)-(c) were admitted; the Tribunal found dishonesty (allegation (d)) proved to the higher standard under the Twinsectra subjective and objective test. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay agreed costs of £11,501.25.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberate course of conduct over an extended period
• Deception of executor partners by procuring signature of an incomplete transfer
• Concealment of identity of purchasers and association with a person staff were instructed not to associate with
• Failure to follow proper procedures (no file or ledger opened)
• Failed to inform mortgagee of sub-letting in breach of mortgage terms

Mitigating factors:

• Allegations (a)-(c) admitted at an early stage
• Co-operated with the SRA
• Repaid £10,000 to the firm in respect of the property
• Positive testimonials/references submitted
• Previously a valuable, conscientious employee with an otherwise spotless record