Howard Robert Gillespie Young

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

Sole practitioner Howard Robert Gillespie Young faced nine allegations before the SDT and did not attend or engage. The Tribunal found proved (beyond reasonable doubt) that he acted dishonestly in his dealings with former client Mr H by twice giving misleading information about a non-existent court hearing/order and by creating and providing a false document purporting to be a Court Order for £330,000. Numerous other breaches were proved: repeated failures to cooperate with the LCS, SRA and Legal Ombudsman; failing to return £3,000 to client Mr B; failing to deliver an Accountant's Report; practising in breach of PC conditions as a sole practitioner; failing to pay the ARP indemnity premium (£162,874.64); practising without a practising certificate after 9 February 2011; and abandoning client files after vacating his office. He had two prior disciplinary findings. Having found no exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs assessed at £23,531.40 (final order stated £23,534.00). A separate High Court fine of £5,000 plus £15,550 costs had earlier been imposed by the Legal Ombudsman proceedings (not a Tribunal sanction).

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• No conflict between current clients
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Hold a current practising certificate

Aggravating factors:

• Two previous appearances before the Tribunal (fines of £5,000 and £20,000) for very similar failures to cooperate
• Repeated pattern of ignoring correspondence despite prior Tribunal warnings
• Failure to comply with seven High Court Orders, resulting in suspended sentence for contempt
• Bench warrants required to secure attendance at High Court on two occasions
• Creation of false Court Order - misconduct at the highest level
• Complete failure to engage with proceedings or provide any explanation