WGS Solicitors
JurisdictionEngland & Wales
BodySolicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT)
Professionsolicitor
Case number12616/2024
Date12/02/2025
OutcomeFine
Allegation / charges
Breaches, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
SanctionFine
FineGBP 25,258
CostsGBP 18,000
Dishonesty foundNo
Duties found breached:
- Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
- No improper use of client money
- Report serious misconduct of others
- Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
- Not misrepresent regulated status
Aggravating factors:
- Failings continued over a significant period of time
- Firm had direct control of the failings
- Allowed its client account to be used as a banking facility without proper checks against money laundering risks
Mitigating factors:
- Firm self-reported via three reports to the SRA
- Firm admitted the allegations
- Resolved by Agreed Outcome
Codes & rules applied
Duties engaged
- Integrity
- No bribery or improper gifts
- Personal probity and fitness to practise
- Uphold public trust in the profession
- No unlawful discrimination or harassment
- Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
- No improper use of client money
- Maintain competence and CPD
- Firm governance, systems and compliance
- Report serious misconduct of others
- AML and crime-prevention compliance
- Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
- Not misrepresent regulated status