Colin George Horne Wilson

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

Colin George Horne Wilson, an Aberdeen solicitor, was found guilty of professional misconduct in cumulo arising from two Complaints. Over a period exceeding two years he repeatedly misrepresented, deceived and misled four separate clients (Mr A, Ms Lovie, Ms Cowie and Ms B), the Employment Tribunal, the courts and a fellow solicitor. He also held himself out as a solicitor and appeared in court while his practising certificate was suspended following sequestration, acted without professional indemnity insurance and intromitted with client funds without a client account, and failed to respond to Law Society correspondence and statutory notices. The Tribunal rejected his double jeopardy and personal bar submissions. The Tribunal expressly found his conduct dishonest and protracted, concluding he was not a fit person to be a solicitor, and ordered his name struck off the Roll. He was found liable for the expenses of the Complainers and the Tribunal, with publicity including his name.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Hold a current practising certificate
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct persisted over a significant period in excess of two years
• Multiple incidents of deliberate misrepresentation/deception, not isolated
• Multiple categories of victims - clients, colleagues, tribunals and courts
• Conduct presented a danger to the public and damaged reputation of the profession
• Took payments from clients while holding himself out as a solicitor without insurance or client account

Mitigating factors:

• Previously good record over 20 years with no prior transgressions
• Embarrassed, ashamed and remorseful
• Cooperation with proceedings via extensive Joint Minutes
• Conduct occurred during a particularly difficult time in his private life (loss of child, failed litigation, divorce, financial crisis leading to sequestration)
• Ill health (aggressive osteomyelitis)
• No financial impropriety in the sense of misappropriation