Matthew Moss

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

Matthew Moss, a solicitor at Optimal Solicitors, worked as a 'legal expert' for JustAnswer from around 2021 without disclosing this to his firm as required by his employment contract. At a formal investigation meeting on 7 June 2024 he provided false information, denying he worked for JustAnswer and claiming payments into his account were for his brother's benefit. He admitted all allegations including dishonesty. The Tribunal, dealing with the matter on the papers via an agreed outcome, found the allegations proved and that the conduct was dishonest. It ordered strike off as the only appropriate sanction and costs of £5,759.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Integrity
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberate provision of false information in response to legitimate employer enquiries
• Attempt to conceal own involvement by attributing payments to his brother
• Conduct undertaken to protect himself

Mitigating factors:

• Single one-off incident, not a sustained course of dishonesty
• Under immense personal and professional stress following redundancy notice
• Psychiatric report evidencing Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and depression
• No prior regulatory history / previously unblemished record
• No client money misused and no client harmed or misled
• Genuine remorse and insight; cooperated with SRA and admitted the truth
• Steps taken to address anxiety and panic disorder
• Family circumstances including a child with additional needs