Simon Langford

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

Simon Langford, an experienced solicitor (admitted 1979) and sole owner/manager, COLP and COFA of Sayers Solicitors, faced five allegations across three conveyancing transactions and a failure to co-operate with the SRA. He admitted all allegations, including dishonestly providing false and misleading information to a client (Mrs A) on up to seven occasions about the registration of her property, which had never been registered since the original 2019 application was rejected. He also failed to register a property, failed to respond to HMLR requisitions, failed to perform an undertaking to Premier Property Lawyers, and failed to co-operate with SRA investigations. The Tribunal found all allegations proved and made an express finding of dishonesty under the Ivey test, finding no exceptional circumstances. It ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £45,630 (reduced from £46,830 to reflect a shorter hearing).

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Diligence and timeliness
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Honour professional undertakings
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty (admitted)
• Deliberate, calculated and repeated conduct over a lengthy period
• Concealment of wrongdoing from client
• Placing blame on others (e.g. HMLR)
• Knew or ought to have known conduct breached obligations to protect public and profession's reputation
• Previous SRA Rebuke and £300 fine in March 2022 for co-operation failures
• High culpability as experienced solicitor, owner, sole solicitor, COLP and COFA

Mitigating factors:

• Admissions made, avoiding a contested hearing (limited credit)
• Attendance at hearing
• Expression of remorse
• Asserted work-related depression (unsupported by medical evidence)
• Death of business partner in 2017 and pressures of running small practice