Paul Christopher Flaherty; William John Gregory Osmond
JurisdictionEngland & Wales
BodySolicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT)
Professionsolicitor
Case number12647/2024
Date01/04/2025
OutcomeFine, Suspend - Fixed Period
Allegation / charges
Breaches, Failures, Misappropriation of Client Account, Money Laundering Regulations, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2011, SRA Principles 2011
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
SanctionSuspension
Suspension12 months
FineGBP 5,001
CostsGBP 65,000
Dishonesty foundNo
Duties found breached:
- AML and crime-prevention compliance
- No baseless or threatened misconduct report
- No conflict between current clients
- No improper use of client money
- Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
Aggravating factors:
- Large number of transactions over £28m paid out without underlying legal transactions
- Misconduct continued over a period exceeding three years
- Clear Law Society/SRA guidance on AML risks existed which the First Respondent should have been aware of
- Second Respondent's breaches may have continued longer but for the Qualified Accountant's Report
Mitigating factors:
- No loss caused to any client or third party
- No evidence the First Respondent profited from the misconduct
- Second Respondent relied on assurances from a trusted co-partner of over 10 years
- Second Respondent expressed regret