Ian Caunt Wilson

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

Ian Caunt Wilson, sole equity partner, COLP and COFA of Lyons Wilson Solicitors, was found to have failed to pay professional disbursements after receiving settlement monies (client account shortfall between £74,733.86 and £148,593.86), failed to run the Firm with effective systems (unpaid liabilities of £233,191.64), failed in his compliance duties as COLP/COFA, and failed to co-operate with the SRA during the intervention. The Tribunal found his conduct lacked integrity but did not make an express finding of dishonesty. He did not attend and the hearing proceeded in his absence. The Tribunal classified misconduct as very high, found no mitigation, and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs of £33,000.

Duties found breached:

• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Firm governance, systems and compliance
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Misconduct deliberate, calculated and repeated over a protracted period of three years
• Abuse of power in position as Managing Partner and Sole Practitioner
• Concealment of unpresented cheques in a filing cabinet in his office
• Sought to blame others throughout the forensic investigation
• Self-serving and financially motivated conduct to keep the Firm operating for his benefit
• Very experienced solicitor (admitted 1969)