Decision record
John Peter Joseph Corr
JurisdictionEngland & Wales
BodySolicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT)
Professionsolicitor
Case number9739/2007
Date01/01/2007
OutcomeStrike off
Allegation / charges
Breaches, Client Money
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
SanctionStrike Off
CostsGBP 5,000
Dishonesty foundYes
Solicitor and equity partner at Pearson Rowe admitted dishonestly hiving off £13,725.37 in fees due to the partnership over approximately three years across 12 matrimonial cases, and altering a client's cheque to make himself payee to mislead the bank. The Tribunal found dishonesty expressly, noting intention to permanently deprive was not required. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay £5,000 costs.
Duties found breached:
Aggravating factors:
- Conduct spanned approximately three years
- Involved 12 matrimonial cases
- Altered a client cheque to mislead the bank
Mitigating factors:
- Admitted conduct fully during Law Society interviews
- No intention to permanently deprive; intended to repay
- Kept detailed records of amounts taken
- Under financial pressure involving his mother
- Expressed genuine remorse
- Was in process of remortgaging to repay