Thomas Cunningham Steel

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

Thomas Cunningham Steel, a Glasgow solicitor, was found guilty of professional misconduct for failing to communicate with a client (the Secondary Complainer) after receiving £76,289 due to her on about 18 October 2018, and for unduly delaying remitting the sum, which was not paid until 10 June 2019. The Tribunal expressly found no dishonesty and no lack of integrity (rejecting the alleged Rule B1.2 breach), holding the conduct nonetheless a serious and reprehensible departure from professional standards. He was censured, ordered to pay compensation of £3,992.26 to the client with 8% interest, and found liable for the Complainers' and Tribunal's expenses (taxed). Publicity naming only the Respondent was directed.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Prompt accounting and return of money

Aggravating factors:

• Client deprived of her funds (£76,289) for eight months
• Multiple reminders from other solicitors were ignored
• Unconscionable delay and lack of communication undermining public trust in the profession

Mitigating factors:

• No previous conduct findings in 38 years of practice
• Isolated single incident
• Immediate contrition, remorse and fulsome apology
• Cooperation with the regulator and Tribunal
• High workload and administrative burden at the time
• Steps taken to reduce workload reducing risk of repetition
• Insight into conduct; not a danger to the public
• Agreed compensation with the Secondary Complainer