Matthew Waterfield

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

Matthew Waterfield, an unadmitted person who ran the day-to-day affairs of EMEA Law Ltd (trading as Cleverson Solicitors) as a consultant, faced allegations of giving unauthorised solicitor's undertakings, submitting misleading information to Companies House, causing delays in HMLR registrations, causing client account shortages of £12,912.68, failing to reconcile accounts and submit an Accountant's Report, and failing to set aside VAT funds (£83,803.79) causing the firm's insolvency. He did not engage and the hearing proceeded in his absence. The Tribunal found all allegations proved, including an express finding of dishonesty for the Companies House submission. It imposed an indefinite Section 43 order and ordered costs of £12,616.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Honesty
• Integrity
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty in submitting misleading financial information to Companies House
• Experienced legal professional who had previously been sole director of a firm that went into administration with debts of approximately £724,585.31
• Poor administration and numerous SARs breaches led to firm becoming insolvent with direct impact on clients
• Transferred £19,500 to his own consultancy while VAT was owed to HMRC

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary matters