Tracey Ann Sheehan

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

Tracey Ann Sheehan, a telecommunications solicitor, was found to have provided grossly exaggerated and false billing and billable-hours information to Dentons (in an FP schedule and partnership proposal form during 2015 recruitment), in a 2016 email to a Dentons partner misrepresenting client MM billings, and to Hill Dickinson (business plan and schedule in 2016/17 recruitment). TW and Dentons financial records showed her actual billings were a fraction of those claimed. The Tribunal found her oral evidence (that figures were merely 'illustrative') incredible, rejecting it. All five allegations were proved beyond reasonable doubt, including express dishonesty under the Ivey test on every allegation, plus breaches of Principles 2 and 6. The Tribunal found no exceptional circumstances and ordered strike off plus costs of £51,615.

Duties found breached:

• Integrity
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was deliberate, calculated and planned
• Repeated over time across four documents/occasions
• Breach of position of trust with partners of Dentons
• Respondent knew conduct breached obligations to protect reputation of the profession
• Direct personal and financial benefit sought

Mitigating factors:

• Otherwise unblemished disciplinary record over a long career
• Extremely positive character testimonials speaking to professionalism and integrity
• Subject to intense commercial pressure and excessive working hours
• Difficult personal circumstances including health issues at relevant time