Michael Lennon
Allegation / charges
Client Money, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, SRA Principles 2011
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
Michael Lennon, an assistant solicitor at DPP Law Ltd, requested and received client payments for legal services into his personal bank account on six occasions between June 2018 and January 2019, failing to account for the money to the Firm. He concealed that he was acting for clients (Clients A-K) in his personal capacity by failing to open client files, using the Firm's letterheads and invoices without authority, receiving client monies personally, and representing Client K in criminal proceedings without authority. He admitted all rule breaches including dishonesty. The Tribunal, dealing with the matter on the papers via an Agreed Outcome, found him wholly culpable and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £4,750.
Duties found breached:
Aggravating factors:
- Conduct was dishonest
- Breach of trust placed in him by the Firm, colleagues and clients
- Repeated conduct over a period of months involving multiple clients