Paul Anthony Brown

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

Paul Anthony Brown, an assistant solicitor, misled three sets of clients about the progress of their matters (including fabricating interim payments, a false affidavit, and non-existent court hearings and conferences) and misled two employer firms. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated and expressly found dishonesty, holding that no mitigation could justify anything less than the ultimate sanction. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £3,231.25, with filing of the order suspended 28 days to wind down his practice.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Misled three separate sets of clients
• Prepared an affidavit sworn by client based on totally false premises
• Caused employer to give misleading information to a client's Member of Parliament
• Denied wrongdoing when challenged by employers and Bureau investigator before admitting
• Entered a second phase of misleading after gaining new employment
• Took client file without authority to new employers
• Serious financial consequences to clients (Mr P and Mr & Mrs C, who lost their home)

Mitigating factors:

• Untreated/uncontrolled diabetic condition at time of offences
• Personal and domestic difficulties and stresses
• Difficult client (Mr V) causing pressure
• No personal material gain
• Made admissions
• Positive testimonials; sole practice books found in good order and running successfully

⚠ figures not found verbatim in the source were dropped: ["unverified_costs_amount=3231.25"]