Jeremy Fieldhouse

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

Jeremy Fieldhouse, admitted 1974, was adjudged bankrupt on 21 April 2005 but failed to notify the Law Society or his firm Penningtons LLP, and continued to practise (including conveyancing work) without a valid Practising Certificate until 14 July 2005, when the bankruptcy was discovered. He admitted both allegations of conduct unbefitting a solicitor. The Tribunal accepted significant mitigation (ill-health/depression, self-delusion about an imminent annulment, self-imposed suspension, no client loss) but, citing concerns about his unsound judgement and possible relapse, imposed an indefinite suspension from 27 March 2007 and ordered him to pay costs subject to detailed assessment unless agreed. No finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Hold a current practising certificate
• Not mislead third parties or opponents

Aggravating factors:

• Series of unsound judgements including continuing belief matters would be put right by a third party
• Breach of important professional requirements
• Failure only came to light inadvertently when Penningtons opened a letter
• Medical concern over possibility of relapse

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the allegations / not contested
• Suffering from clinical depression and ill-health at the relevant time
• No complaint or loss arising; purely a regulatory issue
• Had undergone a self-imposed suspension of some 15-18 months
• Genuine (if mistaken) belief that an annulment of bankruptcy was imminent due to third-party funds, supported by his supervisor drafting an annulment application
• Ruinous financial position
• Personal debts arose from acrimonious divorce and a property crash, not professional misconduct