Daniel Thomas Churchman

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

Daniel Thomas Churchman, admitted 1992, appeared before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for a third time. After his firm was intervened into in April 2000 and his practising certificate suspended, he continued to act as a solicitor in the successor firm without a current practising certificate, failed to respond to Law Society correspondence, failed to deal promptly with client communications, and failed to comply with an Adjudicator's compensation direction. The Tribunal found all five allegations substantiated. No dishonesty was alleged or found. Given his disciplinary history and the gravity of practising while suspended, the Tribunal found him not fit to be a solicitor and struck him off the Roll, ordering costs and making the compensation direction enforceable as a High Court order.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• Hold a current practising certificate
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Third appearance before the Tribunal; prior disciplinary history in 1999 and 2002
• Prior warning in 1999 that repeat offences would not be treated leniently
• Continued practising as a solicitor while suspended and without a Practising Certificate, described as very grave
• Complete disregard for an important regulatory requirement

Mitigating factors:

• Ill health/clinical depression during the relevant period
• Some degree of recovery noted
• Apologised for his actions