James Alexander Gregg

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

James Alexander Gregg, a solicitor's clerk, wrote letters to a Canadian lawyer and London solicitors making misleading assertions about the bona fides and financial ability of B Limited (in fact a dormant company) in connection with a purported US$25m loan/prime bank guarantee scheme, an 'advance fee scam'. The applicant did not allege he was a co-conspirator but that his involvement lent credibility to the fraud without any verification. The Tribunal found the allegation substantiated and made a section 43 order preventing his employment by any solicitor without Law Society permission, and ordered him to pay costs of £1,409.73. No express finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Involvement lent credibility to a fraudulent 'advance fee'/'prime bank instrument' scheme
• Gave reassurances on the flimsiest of circumstances without taking steps to verify authenticity or Mr N's authority to act

Mitigating factors:

• Believed the client and transactions were genuine
• Close to retirement age (nearly 63)
• Suffering ill health and clinical depression
• Cared for his wife for 20 months before her death
• Unemployed, on income support, home repossessed, office closed