Alan Blacker

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

Alan Blacker, a solicitor practising at JAFLAS, a charity, was found to have committed eight breaches: failures to maintain proper client and office accounts, failure to obtain an accountant's report, making inaccurate and misleading statements about his academic qualifications (e.g. claiming a DPhil and degrees from Trinity College Oxford and double honours), inaccurate claims about accreditations and memberships (BIICL, AMCA, PQASSO), false claims to use the title KGCStJ/Knight of St John, and failure to co-operate with the SRA. He styled himself 'Lord Harley'. An allegation that he recklessly misled Cardiff Crown Court was found not proved. The Tribunal made an express finding of dishonesty (applying the Twinsectra test) in respect of his false claims as to qualifications and memberships. The Respondent did not attend and the Tribunal proceeded in his absence. Finding no exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered costs of £86,000. His subsequent High Court appeal was dismissed.

Duties found breached:

• No abuse of process or coercive powers
• Proper basis for allegations
• No improper use of client money
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty alleged and proved
• Misconduct was deliberate, calculated, repeated and occurred over a period of time
• Misconduct had been getting worse over time
• Significant risk of taking advantage of vulnerable persons (armed forces/former military personnel)
• Concealment of wrongdoing and attempts to bluff his way out of the situation
• No insight demonstrated
• Failed to co-operate with his regulator
• Motivation appeared to be self-aggrandisement
• Harmed the legal profession's reputation, making it a laughing stock