(unnamed respondent)

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

Nicola Cannon, money laundering reporting officer of Cannons Law Practice LLP, failed to lodge the firm's money laundering certificate by the extended deadline of 13 June 2022, delivering it around six months late in December 2022. The Law Society's Professional Conduct Sub-Committee found unsatisfactory professional conduct, imposed a statutorily-mandated censure and a £800 fine. Her appeal to the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal was refused. The Inner House of the Court of Session refused her petition, rejecting arguments that the Society had no power to complain to the Commission, that the sanctions were disproportionate or breached ECHR articles 6 and 8, and that the tribunal's decision was unreasonable. No finding of dishonesty was made; the matter was treated as unsatisfactory professional conduct rather than misconduct due to mitigating factors.

Duties found breached:

• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• She was on notice of the certificate requirement before her health problems arose
• The certificate was outstanding for a prolonged period (around six months)
• Arrangements made during her absence were inadequate
• An overly casual attitude to an important professional duty; ample opportunity to comply with the deadline

Mitigating factors:

• Serious accident while abroad requiring surgery, plus a further pre-planned operation, with convalescence until 1 May 2022
• First time such a failure had occurred
• Unreserved apology; no disrespect intended
• Arrangements had been put in place to cover her absence (administrative assistant asked to handle emails)