Robin Alastair Jackson & Another

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

Two solicitor partners of the firm Jacksons faced SRA allegations following a forensic investigation. The First Respondent (Robin Alastair Jackson) was found to have transferred £12,554.30 from client account to office account as costs across eight old probate matters without any evidence to justify the bills, while the firm was in financial difficulty and over its overdraft. The Tribunal applied the Twinsectra combined test and found this conduct dishonest. He also breached the Accounts Rules by failing to update clients on retained client money, and accepted a significant £6,000 gift under a will while acting as executor without ensuring the client took independent advice. The Second Respondent admitted that the firm retained £4,140 of search-fee rebates (£20 per search) rather than passing them to clients. The First Respondent was struck off; the Second Respondent, who played a more minor part, was fined £500. Costs were assessed at £18,000, split 90/10, not enforceable without leave.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Costs and fee transparency to client
• No improper benefit, loan or bequest
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Client money used to assist the firm's financial difficulties while over the agreed overdraft
• No documentary evidence produced to justify bills despite opportunity; explanation of prior undercharging found not credible
• Bills not received by co-executors; matters were very old with no further work required