Campbell Dinsmore Joss

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

Campbell Dinsmore Joss, a sole practitioner solicitor, was found guilty of professional misconduct in cumulo arising from six purchase/sale/purchase (back-to-back) property transactions in 2008-2009 involving connected parties. He failed to report material circumstances to lenders (BM and C&G) as required by the CML Lenders' Handbook, signed misleading Certificates of Title, failed to communicate with or advise individual clients, acted in conflicts of interest, breached the Accounts and Money Laundering Rules, failed to make SOCA reports under POCA, failed to issue terms of engagement letters, and knowingly misled three firms of solicitors. The Tribunal characterised his conduct as wilful or at best extremely reckless and expressly noted there was no evidence of fraud/dishonesty (no express dishonesty finding). Concluding he was not a fit and proper person to practise, the Tribunal ordered his name struck off the Roll, found him liable in expenses (taxed, amount unspecified), and directed publicity including his name.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Self-report to the regulator
• Report serious misconduct of others

Aggravating factors:

• Large number of breaches of many duties
• Repeated course of conduct across six transactions
• Clear danger presented to the public
• Clear risk to the reputation of the legal profession
• Complete and utter disregard for duties of care owed to clients, profession and authorities
• Wilfully misled fellow solicitors
• Very experienced solicitor (enrolled 1975) who knew or ought to have known the difficulties
• Reckless conduct made fraud possible; no SOCA reports despite suspicious transactions

Mitigating factors:

• No evidence of personal greed or profit - conduct driven by financial pressure of insufficient fees and rising overheads
• Cooperated with the Law Society throughout the enquiry
• Pled guilty at the earliest possible stage
• Long career (since 1975) with no prior difficulty
• No evidence of any loss or complaint by any lender or client; no properties sold on and no loans called up
• Acted professionally in relation to the proceedings; had surrendered his practising certificate