Andrew Jesson

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

Andrew Jesson, a solicitor's clerk employed as Financial Services Manager at Emsleys, forged the signatures of five clients on documents purporting to authorise the firm's retention of commission, during a Law Society Monitoring Unit visit. He was dismissed. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated (uncontested) and made an Order under Section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 restricting his employment by solicitors, and ordered him to pay costs of £1,175. Although the conduct amounted to forgery, the Tribunal did not make an express finding of dishonesty.

Duties found breached:

• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Forgery carried out while a Law Society representative was present on the employer's premises
• Forged signatures of five separate clients

Mitigating factors:

• Did not contest the allegation and did not oppose the Order
• Acted in a moment of panic
• Undergoing a traumatic divorce with stress and emotional upheaval
• Had been a victim of a mugging
• Recent death of his son in a road accident
• Serious financial straits with no finance or savings