Simon James Spencer

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

Simon James Spencer, admitted 1990, acting for a client in civil proceedings, created or tendered false documents (a claim form dated 5 May 1999, a defence dated 19 May 1999 and a court order purportedly made 18 June 1999) when proceedings were not in fact issued until 5 July 1999, thereby misleading his client, his employer and the Court. The Tribunal found all five pursued allegations substantiated and found a thoroughly dishonest course of conduct. He did not appear. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £3,519.13.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Handle inadvertently received material

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonest course of conduct
• Handed client falsified claim form, defence and court order
• Sought to blame an unnamed secretary at the court hearing
• Damaged reputation of the profession in eyes of client and Court

Mitigating factors:

• Under pressure at the time
• Previous valuable contribution to the firm as noted by his employer