Karon Brown

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

Karon Brown, senior and sole equity partner at Watson and Brown, conducted high-volume conveyancing for purchasers of Morris investment properties while also acting for lenders. She failed to inform lender clients of discounts, incentives, financial assistance from the vendor, sub-sales/back-to-back transactions and price differences, submitted misleading Certificates of Title, and deliberately preferred Morris's interests over her clients'. The Tribunal found breaches of SPR Rules 1, 6(3), 15 and the Introduction and Referral Code proved, and made an express finding of dishonesty (applying Twinsectra) on Allegation 1. Allegations 2 and 4 were not proved. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £35,500.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• No conflict between current clients
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest conduct involving hallmarks of mortgage fraud
• Deliberately preferred interests of introducer/vendor Morris over clients
• High volume of transactions (442 matters over 18 months) causing financial loss to purchaser and lender clients
• Submitted misleading Certificates of Title with undertakings
• Ignored concerns raised by assistant solicitor Michelle Clark
• Was sole equity partner, senior partner and MLRO with overall responsibility

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary findings