Daniel Anthony McGinn

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

Daniel Anthony McGinn, a Scottish solicitor and former principal of The Clyde Law Group, took instructions from a client in a medical negligence claim, then closed his practice around October 2016 without informing his client or regulator, effectively disappearing. The client's claim triennium expired in early 2017. The Tribunal, proceeding in his absence, found him guilty of professional misconduct for ceasing to act without just cause and failing to advise the client. The Tribunal expressly noted there was no dishonesty. Given the seriousness, prior analogous finding, and risk to the public, he was struck off the Roll. A later compensation hearing awarded the Secondary Complainer £1,000 for inconvenience and distress (a claim for loss of opportunity failed for lack of evidence on the merits). He was found liable in expenses; compensation-hearing expenses were no order.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Act in the client's best interests
• Act only on proper, lawful instructions
• Proper termination and return of instructions
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Failure to cooperate with the investigation and prosecution
• No evidence of insight or remorse
• Failed to attend/engage with proceedings
• Client (Secondary Complainer) badly let down and did nothing to rectify
• Previous analogous finding of misconduct on record (2019)
• Brought the profession into disrepute
• Danger to the public if he continued to practise

Mitigating factors:

• No dishonesty involved
• No course of conduct (single matter)