Adrian Clive Harling

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

The Respondent, a partner and Managing Partner at Painters Solicitors, admitted making untrue and misleading statements to a client (Mr B) over some 15 months about the progress of a boundary-dispute litigation, including inventing court listing calls and dates when no proceedings had been issued. He admitted dishonesty, which the Tribunal found proved under the Twinsectra test. The Tribunal rejected his claim that he was protecting the client by diverting him from litigation, finding a sustained web of deception at the gravest end of the spectrum. It concluded there were no exceptional circumstances under Sharma and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £2,973.50.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Integrity
• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Sustained and developing deception over a long period (some 15 months)
• Numerous dishonest statements/emails, including inventing telephone calls to and from the court and referring to adopting a vacated court date
• Conduct was deliberate
• Caused harm to the client whose case was not progressed and could have been prejudiced
• Committed by a solicitor of seniority and standing

Mitigating factors:

• Previously long unblemished record (28 years)
• Insight and candour, acknowledging his conduct
• Positive character reference and support of partners
• Under significant pressure with heavy caseload and management responsibilities as Managing Partner
• Misplaced desire to protect client and apology/offer to rectify matters
• No personal financial benefit