B J Harvey & G Morgan

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

Two linked matters. Mr Harvey, a sole practitioner solicitor, admitted numerous professional failings including accounts rule breaches, failing to notify insurers, failing to respond to the Law Society, failing to honour undertakings, inadequate supervision of staff and failing to act diligently. He was suspended indefinitely and ordered to pay costs of £6,836.43; a Law Society adjudicator's compensation direction re client Mr T was made enforceable as a High Court order. Mr Morgan, a licensed conveyancer/clerk, was made subject to a Section 43 order (effective 12 October 2007) for breaches of undertakings, delays and failures to respond, and ordered to pay costs of £1,500. No express finding of dishonesty was made against either respondent.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• No improper communication with the court
• Diligence and timeliness
• Supervise staff and delegated work
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Abdication of professional responsibilities allowing matters to spiral out of control (Harvey)
• Serious breaches of undertakings and serious delays in registration exposing clients to risk of loss (Morgan)
• Continued to handle unmanageable conveyancing workload knowing proper service could not be given (Morgan)

Mitigating factors:

• Financial difficulties/bankruptcy as a factor (Harvey)
• Harvey did not totally ignore Law Society correspondence though responses were sparse
• Morgan's failures largely caused by lack of employer support and excessive workload
• Previously satisfactory career with no complaints before joining Harvey (Morgan)
• Now working with manageable workload and proper supervision (Morgan)
• Delay by the Law Society in bringing proceedings