Andrew John Field

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

Sole practitioner Andrew John Field referred clients (including a brain-damaged victim's £1.6m fund, an estate fund, and a 101-year-old's funds) to a tied financial adviser, ST, rather than an independent intermediary, for investment bonds with life insurance elements that generated substantial commissions. He had taken a £25,000 loan from ST, compromising his independence, undisclosed to clients. He also omitted the loans from ST and his parents from his IVA statement of affairs submitted to Medway County Court to make the IVA viable and avoid bankruptcy. The Tribunal found all three allegations proved and found dishonesty (applying the Twinsectra test) regarding the IVA. The Respondent did not attend. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay £16,000 costs.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No taking unfair advantage
• Not mislead third parties or opponents

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest omission of loans from IVA proposal submitted to County Court with statement of truth to evade bankruptcy
• Experienced solicitor admitted in 1991, aware of SRA guidance
• Vulnerable clients including a brain-damaged accident victim and a 101-year-old without mental capacity
• Failure to disclose personal financial relationship/loan with ST to clients

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary matters