David Durkin-Finch
JurisdictionEngland & Wales
BodySolicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT)
Professionsolicitor
Case number12586/2024
Date01/11/2024
OutcomeProhibition Order, Suspend - Fixed Period
Allegation / charges
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Lack of Integrity, Recklessness, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2019
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
SanctionSuspension
Suspension24 months
CostsGBP 6,000
Dishonesty foundNo
Duties found breached:
- Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
- Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
- Safeguard documents and limit liens
- Not misrepresent regulated status
Aggravating factors:
- Conduct was reckless (admitted)
- Conduct was very serious and persisted over a long time
- Clients placed at significant and unnecessary extra risk
Mitigating factors:
- Level of insight demonstrated into his poor conduct
- Remedial steps taken in removing the unadmitted person
- Closed the firm in an orderly way
- No client was said to have suffered harm
- Made full admissions to all allegations including recklessness
Codes & rules applied
Duties engaged
- Integrity
- No bribery or improper gifts
- Personal probity and fitness to practise
- Uphold public trust in the profession
- Act in the client's best interests
- Advise objectively, not a mere conduit
- Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
- Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
- Safeguard documents and limit liens
- Firm governance, systems and compliance
- Not misrepresent regulated status