Adam Patrick Butler

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

The Respondent, an assistant solicitor handling conveyancing for a developer client, prepared SDLT returns with false completion dates to avoid late-filing penalties (£100 each). He falsified dates on multiple returns and presented a client with a false-dated document to sign. The client discovered the conduct and reported it. The Respondent admitted the conduct and dishonesty. The Tribunal found all allegations substantiated and expressly found dishonesty, striking him off the Roll and ordering costs of £2,815.06.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• No taking unfair advantage
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Falsified dates on documents on more than one occasion over a period of time
• Presented to client a document containing a false date for the client to sign to be submitted to SDLT Office

Mitigating factors:

• Frank and open admissions, admitted dishonesty
• Full cooperation with The Law Society
• High regard in which he was held by employers and others
• Behaviour out of character
• Severe personal pressure including wife's illness and lack of supervision
• No significant personal gain; small sums involved