Douglas William Stevenson

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

Stevenson, a Chartered Accountant employed as financial controller of Durnford Ford solicitors (1986-1992), was the subject of a Law Society application for a Section 43 order. The senior partner, Graham Durnford Ford, had been struck off and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for misusing clients' monies via fictitious, undelivered bills, creating a minimum client account shortage of £711,489.16 plus a controlled-trust shortage of £125,492.96. The respondent claimed ignorance, but the Tribunal found it inconceivable that someone of his background would not have questioned the situation, especially as less-qualified staff had raised concerns with him. The Tribunal found he 'turned a blind eye' and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the misuse. The allegation was NOT that he was complicit; no express finding of dishonesty was made. The Tribunal made the Section 43 order and ordered him to pay the costs of the enquiry leading to the proceedings against him, to be taxed if not agreed.

Duties found breached:

• Honour professional undertakings
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Respondent was a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants qualified to provide Accountant's Reports and police compliance with the Solicitors Accounts Rules
• Maintained a 'negative work in progress' report indicating prior knowledge of improper transfers
• Less qualified and experienced staff raised concerns with him yet he took no action
• Failed to inform any equity partner or take any steps

Mitigating factors:

• Not the subject of allegation of complicity in the senior partner's misconduct
• Senior partner was described as secretive and Machiavellian, by-passing even his own partners
• Respondent was not prosecuted by the police