Roger Brian Allanson

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

Roger Brian Allanson, a partner at Allansons LLP, operated a scheme raising over £19m from litigation funders to fund miscalculated mortgage payment (MMP) claims. The Tribunal found his Litigation Funding Brochure gave dishonestly misleading impressions about risk, timescales, use of the £4,000 funding, barristers' assessment of prospects, and the firm's 'track record'. He was found to have dishonestly misused funders' monies, including transferring over £120,000 to his personal account and using funds for his credit card, PII premium, introducers and third parties. He also failed to progress thousands of claims (with manifest incompetence), sent inappropriate/threatening emails to a funder, and committed multiple Accounts Rules breaches. Express findings of dishonesty were made under the Ivey test. The Tribunal found no mitigating factors, identified no exceptional circumstances, and ordered that he be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £103,867.55. An appeal to the High Court was dismissed.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Competence
• Report serious misconduct of others
• Truthful, non-misleading advertising

Aggravating factors:

• Substantial dishonesty
• Conduct deliberate, calculated and repeated over a period of time
• Concealment of wrongdoing in correspondence with funders and misrepresentations in LFB
• Litigation funders taken advantage of
• Motivated primarily by financial gain
• Previous disciplinary finding (2018 - fine of £17,000 and costs of £10,000 for accounts breaches)
• Experienced solicitor of some 30 years' standing
• Foreseeable and significant harm to funders, clients and the profession