Guy Blackwood

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

Guy Blackwood, admitted 1985, dishonestly misappropriated some £82,749.15 from the estate of a deceased client (Ms B), transferring funds to accounts in his own name or that of himself and his wife, and used those funds for personal property investments. The Tribunal, applying Twinsectra, found the conduct dishonest. He had also been convicted in the criminal court and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment on the same facts. The Respondent did not appear. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £20,000 inclusive.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Total of £82,749.15 misappropriated from estate
• Funds held to his own order for 1,396 to 1,756 days
• Used estate funds for personal property investments rather than repaying
• Convicted in criminal court and sentenced to 30 months imprisonment on the same facts
• Repayments only made when challenged

Mitigating factors:

• No ultimate loss to beneficiaries (repaid via Curtis)
• No historic complaints against him