Jonathan Thomas Gorman

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

Jonathan Thomas Gorman, a solicitor and Head of Commercial Property at EAD Solicitors LLP, faced three allegations relating to property transactions between January 2016 and June 2017: failing to properly advise clients and protect their interests, failing to perform an undertaking, and allowing the client account to be used as a banking facility. He did not attend or engage; the hearing proceeded in his absence after his late adjournment request was refused. All allegations were found proved on the balance of probabilities, including express findings of dishonesty (Ivey test) on all three allegations. The Tribunal assessed culpability as high and harm as very high, found no exceptional circumstances under Sharma/James, and struck him off the Roll. He was ordered to pay costs of £40,000 (reduced from the £55,652.60 claimed).

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Honour professional undertakings
• Integrity
• No improper use of client money
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Uphold public trust in the profession

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty found
• Deliberate, calculated, repeated and systematic course of conduct over many months
• Close and complicit relationship with property developer RW
• Harm spread across multiple clients in high-value property transactions
• Alleged losses of around £9m to the S Clients
• Lack of meaningful cooperation/engagement with the Regulator
• No insight or admissions

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary findings
• Hitherto unblemished career