Dixit Shah

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

The Respondent, admitted in 1994 and now resident in India, acquired B.J. Brandon & Co in 1998. He was found to have employed/remunerated Nicholas Bentley, a solicitor suspended indefinitely since 1994, without Law Society permission, during the period 10-29 September 1998 while Mr Brandon was on holiday. The Respondent knew of Bentley's suspension from 3 July 1998 and had arranged for a permission application. The Tribunal rejected his defence that he had hired the company 'Key-to-the-Door Limited' rather than Bentley, finding the company was Bentley's agent and that to find otherwise would drive a coach and horses through Section 41. The Respondent did not appear. The Tribunal found the allegation proved, described the breach as flagrant and at the serious end of the scale, and imposed the ultimate sanction. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Respondent was well aware Mr Bentley was suspended, having arranged for permission to be sought
• Flagrant breach of provisions requiring solicitors not to employ suspended solicitors without permission
• Respondent employed Mr Bentley in an area of law (conveyancing) in which the Respondent himself had no experience, exposing the public to unacceptable risk
• Ignored the strict requirements for his own convenience
• Made no effort to find alternative cover
• Put forward no mitigating circumstances