Christopher William Edwin Greenman

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

The Respondent, senior/equity partner at Dews Witcomb Solicitors, had conduct of the administration of the Estate of Mrs DMK. Having quoted a fixed fee of 3% of the gross estate (approx £11,126), he raised four bills totalling £90,000 (inclusive of VAT) - a 574% overcharge - which were never sent to the executor/client, and transferred those sums from client account in breach of the Accounts Rules, misappropriating £90,000. The Tribunal found allegations 1.1 and 1.2 proved beyond reasonable doubt and made an express finding of dishonesty under the Twinsectra test. The Respondent did not attend and the hearing proceeded in his absence; allegations 1.3 and 1.4 were withdrawn. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £10,000.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct motivated by personal self-interest and financial gain
• Actions planned, deliberate, calculated and repeated over a 13-month period (four separate bills)
• Breach of considerable trust placed in him by clients
• Took advantage of residual beneficiary being a charity
• Attempts to conceal wrongdoing through bills and a letter to the residual beneficiary
• Proven dishonesty
• No insight - described proceedings as 'frivolous'
• Caused considerable harm to the reputation of the profession

Mitigating factors:

• Previously unblemished record