Anita Jane Garside and Paul Verney Robertshaw

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

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found allegations substantiated against Anita Jane Garside (one allegation of employing a suspended/bankrupt solicitor contrary to s.41) and all allegations against Paul Verney Robertshaw (practising uncertificated, holding client money while uncertificated, accounting and reporting failures, and failure to cooperate). No dishonesty was found. Mrs Garside received a mandatory 7-day suspension (the Tribunal considering striking off disproportionate given her minimal three-day involvement) and was ordered to pay costs of £2,813.51. Mr Robertshaw was suspended indefinitely until he can prove rectification of breaches and fitness to practise, and ordered to pay costs of £6,260.93. The First Respondent's case was adjourned on health grounds.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Competence
• Hold a current practising certificate
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Robertshaw abrogated his responsibilities and behaved in a cavalier and foolish manner
• His conduct seriously affected Mrs Garside
• Continued to hold clients' money despite condition not to and failed to file Accountant's Reports
• Failed to respond to OSS correspondence and did not engage with proceedings

Mitigating factors:

• Garside's involvement at the lowest end of the scale, only three days and without awareness of the breach
• Garside suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and largely uninvolved in management
• Garside had a previously unblemished record

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_costs_amount=9074.44"]