Anthony Burns

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

Anthony Burns, a sole practitioner and COLP/COFA at Mawdsleys Solicitors, faced four allegations all found proved on unchallenged evidence in his absence. He failed for years to comply with a Legal Ombudsman Final Decision and subsequent county court order regarding trust funds, provided dishonest/inaccurate information on two professional indemnity insurance proposal forms by deliberately omitting his criminal conviction, regulatory investigations, civil judgments and penalties, and repeatedly failed to comply with court orders including one bearing a penal notice, remaining at risk of committal for 153 days (found reckless). The Tribunal made an express finding of dishonesty under Ivey regarding the insurance forms. Given the dishonesty and absence of exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £39,335.90.

Duties found breached:

• Comply with and respect court orders
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Proven dishonesty
• Conduct was planned/deliberate
• Persistent failure to comply over many years
• Two previous SRA sanctions for failing to engage/comply with LeO
• Prior 2009 conviction-related Tribunal appearance (money laundering disclosure offence)
• Caused foreseeable harm to Person C and Charity A
• Recklessness found in relation to allegation 1.4