Lesley Dee Layton

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

The Respondent, a solicitor admitted in 2007, admitted dishonestly causing witness statements in client GH's matter to be created with copied/traced signatures and then falsely maintaining to opposing solicitors and the court that the signatures were genuine, leading to the claim being struck out. In client KF's matter she caused a claim form to be filed with an accident date she did not believe true and which falsely purported to be signed by the client, to avoid the consequences of missing the limitation deadline. The matter was dealt with on the papers by way of an agreed outcome. The Tribunal found the admissions properly made and dishonesty proved, and finding no exceptional circumstances, ordered the Respondent be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £13,920 plus VAT.

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty proved and continued over a period of months
• Conduct in two separate client matters
• Sought to perpetuate deception in correspondence and to the court
• Clients exposed to harm (GH's claim struck out; KF's claim at risk)
• Firm left vulnerable to civil action
• Experienced solicitor who knew or ought to have known conduct was in material breach of obligations

Mitigating factors:

• Open and frank admissions and full cooperation with investigation
• Previously unblemished career with no previous complaints
• Expressed embarrassment and had sought to uphold the rule of law