Andrew Jesson

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

Andrew Jesson, a non-solicitor employed as Financial Services Manager/clerk at Messrs. Emsleys, forged the signatures of five clients on documents purporting to record their agreement to the firm retaining commission, during a Law Society Monitoring Unit visit. He admitted signing the agreements himself. He was dismissed and did not contest the allegation. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated and made a Section 43 order, plus costs. The respondent pleaded personal mitigation (panic, divorce, mugging, death of his son). No express finding of dishonesty was recorded.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

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

Mitigating factors:

• Allegation not contested
• Respondent acted in a moment's panic
• Undergoing a traumatic divorce causing stress and emotional upheaval
• Victim of a mugging around that time
• Recent death of his son in a road accident
• Lost job, self-esteem and family
• In serious financial straits with no finance or savings