Michael Peter Anthony Baldwin

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

Michael Peter Anthony Baldwin, a solicitor and sole surviving trustee of a will trust, failed to disclose to his former wife (a beneficiary) her ~£24,000 entitlement following the life tenant's death, while paying all other beneficiaries. Amid acrimonious matrimonial proceedings, he swore multiple affidavits failing to disclose his and his wife's inheritance, and obtained a more favourable consent order. The Tribunal expressly found he had dishonestly failed to disclose material facts in affidavits as a device to serve his own ends. Despite substantial mitigation (personal difficulties, his mother's death, partnership disputes, long distinguished career), he was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £4,848.78.

Duties found breached:

• Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Disclose material information to client
• No improper benefit, loan or bequest

Aggravating factors:

• Mature and experienced solicitor who knew his obligations
• Used position as trustee/solicitor to disadvantage a person he felt aggrieved by
• Swore false affidavits while simultaneously accusing his former wife of non-disclosure
• Obtained a more favourable consent order (£37,500) through his dissembling
• Persistent non-disclosure over an appreciable time

Mitigating factors:

• Successful long career as naval officer and solicitor
• Letters written in support of the respondent
• Acrimonious and painful divorce causing deep grievance
• Death of his elderly mother in distressing circumstances around the same time
• Deterioration of relationship with partners and position within firm
• Expressed deep regret and accepted errors of judgement
• Judge in partnership litigation found he did not intend to take his wife's share for his own benefit