Michael Aubrey Gordon

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

Michael Aubrey Gordon, a solicitor admitted in 1977, admitted conduct unbefitting a solicitor arising from a client account shortfall exceeding £45,000. He misused £14,000 held for one client's estate (RL) for the benefit of another (AW estate), and made personal payments totalling £31,943.70 using rents from an AW estate property to pay his son's school fees over six instances from 1998 to 2002, disguising the payments via cheque stubs/requisition slips showing false payees. He voluntarily disclosed the shortfall to his partner when the inspection began and repaid the full shortage by 24 May 2002. The Tribunal found a serious case of dishonest behaviour pursued over time with concealment, and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £5,500.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest conduct pursued over a four-year period
• Degree of concealment / covering of tracks by falsifying cheque stubs and requisition slips
• Use of clients' funds for own purposes

Mitigating factors:

• Voluntary disclosure to partner
• Full and frank admissions to the Investigation Officer
• Full repayment of the shortfall with family loans
• Severe personal and family difficulties (severely dyslexic/hyperactive son's school fees, marital breakdown, former wife's cancer)
• Previously held in high esteem with no other irregularities over 20 years
• Strong character references including from his former partner