Martyn Wright
Allegation / charges
Breaches, Client Money, Failures, Solicitors' Accounts Rules, Others
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
Martyn Wright, a sole practitioner trading as Wright & Morton, effectively abandoned his practice, leaving it without proper supervision (only a receptionist/secretary in attendance) and failing to co-operate with the SRA's attempted inspection. He failed to account to a client (Mrs B) for interest, failed to deliver accountant's reports, and committed multiple regulatory breaches. He did not attend the hearing but admitted all allegations by letter. The Tribunal found all allegations proved, found him not fit to practise, and suspended him indefinitely, ordering costs to be subject to detailed assessment if not agreed. No express finding of dishonesty was made.
Duties found breached:
- Personal probity and fitness to practise
- Uphold public trust in the profession
- Complaints procedure and handling
- No conflict between current clients
- Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
- Account for interest on client money
- Supervise staff and delegated work
Aggravating factors:
- Abandoned his practice, leaving clients at risk
- Failed to co-operate with the SRA, preventing it from carrying out its regulatory function
- Refused to attend the attempted inspection of his books of account
Mitigating factors:
- Admitted all allegations and confirmed he did not intend to contest the proceedings
Duties engaged
- Personal probity and fitness to practise
- Uphold public trust in the profession
- Act in the client's best interests
- Complaints procedure and handling
- No conflict between current clients
- Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
- Account for interest on client money
- Supervise staff and delegated work
- Orderly wind-down and contingency cover