Stephen David Baron

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

The Respondent, a solicitor admitted in 1982, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court on 1 July 2010 on 5 counts of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment; his appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The convictions related to mortgage fraud valued at £898,000 perpetrated through abuse of his position as a solicitor. The Tribunal refused an adjournment application based on ill-health and a pending application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. It found the Respondent breached Rules 1.02 and 1.06 SCC, declining to go behind the criminal conviction. The sentencing judge and Court of Appeal had found the Respondent acted dishonestly. The Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £10,000.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Convicted on 5 counts of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment
• Mortgage fraud to the value of £898,000
• Grave breach of trust committed while acting as a solicitor to lenders
• Jury found the Respondent acted dishonestly
• One previous disciplinary matter (2002) with fines totalling £15,000 and costs of £6,000 plus VAT

Mitigating factors:

• Qualified as a solicitor for nearly 30 years
• Family and personal circumstances
• Did not hold a practising certificate and posed no danger to the public