Michael Baker

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

The Respondent, an experienced solicitor admitted in 1992, admitted three allegations: practising while suspended and without a practising certificate, working at a firm without prior SRA approval contrary to PC conditions, and completing a property/business sale before securing loans against the land, putting clients' funds (up to £2m) at risk. The conduct dated from 2016 but was only reported in 2021. The Tribunal initially rejected a proposed 3-year suspension and sought further submissions; the parties revised the agreed outcome to a 5-year suspension. The Tribunal found a serious lack of integrity (not dishonesty) and blatant disregard of its previous order, but concluded strike off was not justified. It imposed a 5-year suspension with post-suspension practice restrictions and ordered £4,000 costs.

Duties found breached:

• Safeguard documents and limit liens
• Hold a current practising certificate

Aggravating factors:

• Practised as a solicitor while already suspended by the Tribunal
• Practised for some 9 months in breach of conditions on his practising certificate
• Knew or ought to have known his conduct materially breached obligations to protect the public and reputation of the profession
• Previous disciplinary history - suspended for one year in 2015 for breach of accounts rules including acting without integrity
• Blatant disregard of the Tribunal's previous order

Mitigating factors:

• Cooperated with the SRA investigation
• Did not receive remuneration or enter an employment contract for the initial work
• Claimed he wrongly assumed his conduct did not breach the terms of his suspension
• Did not hold himself out as a solicitor and work was overseen by Mrs Whiting
• Expressed apology and remorse