Victor Richard Stockinger

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

Victor Stockinger, an experienced sole practitioner solicitor, was found to have failed to comply with two court costs orders, made racially/ethnically/religiously motivated and offensive comments to junior women at a SAHCA lecture event in June 2019, and failed to cooperate with the SRA's investigation including providing inaccurate and misleading information. The Tribunal made one finding of dishonesty (falsely stating he had appealed the Client A order), one finding of recklessness (re Person I mediating a settlement), and multiple findings of lack of integrity and breaches of Principles 2, 6, 7 and 9. The Tribunal found his lien argument over court-ordered costs unsustainable. Given the cumulative seriousness, particularly the dishonesty finding, the Tribunal ordered the Respondent struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £41,850. A subsequent appeal was struck out by Farbey J on 15 May 2023.

Duties found breached:

• Comply with and respect court orders
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• Integrity
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No taking unfair advantage
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Proper basis for allegations
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• One finding of dishonesty in misleading the regulator
• Repeated delays and incomplete responses to the regulator over several months
• Racially, ethnically and religiously motivated comments displaying lack of respect for diversity
• Limited insight; repeatedly blamed others (former clients, the regulator, and complainants alleging bad faith)
• High culpability as a highly experienced solicitor who deliberately misled his regulator
• Foreseeable harm to complainants, clients and reputation of the profession

Mitigating factors:

• Otherwise unblemished disciplinary record over 30-year career
• Belated payment of the principal sums due under the costs orders (though not interest)
• Misconduct limited to three distinct episodes
• Made some factual admissions at an early stage
• Apologised for the upset caused at the SAHCA event
• Impact of Covid lockdown restrictions on access to files and being overseas for part of the period