Ross Ian McKay

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

The respondent, admitted to the Roll in 2004, was convicted on indictment on 21 December 2018 of two counts under s.328(1) and one count under s.327 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (money laundering), relating to his work assisting clients in developing a property portfolio based on fraudulently obtained funds (over £1m / purchases over £7.3m) and converting criminal property through a company linked to a convicted drug dealer. He was sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment. On an agreed outcome dealt with on the papers, the Tribunal found breaches of Principles 1, 2 and 6 and ordered that he be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £1,450.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• The breaches of the law took place over a lengthy period
• Misconduct he knew or ought reasonably to have known was in material breach of obligations to uphold the proper administration of justice and protect the reputation of the profession
• Convicted of serious offences with a 7-year custodial sentence imposed

Mitigating factors:

• Early admissions in the proceedings
• Acknowledged his name should be struck off and did not contend any lesser sanction was suitable