Christopher Paul Harrison

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

Christopher Paul Harrison, a solicitor admitted in 1979, was found to have acted dishonestly in multiple conveyancing transactions where he acted for vendor, purchaser and lender without consent, failed to disclose material information to lender clients, misstated purchase prices, and avoided Stamp Duty by falsely declaring transfers were not for money. The Tribunal made express dishonesty findings on the conveyancing matters but did not find dishonesty proved on the 'secret profit' overcharging allegation (though a Rule 15 breach was found). He admitted all allegations except dishonesty and did not attend. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £13,688.42.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Honesty
• No taking unfair advantage
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Disclose material information to client
• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• No own-interest conflict
• No conflict between current clients
• Handle inadvertently received material
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Vendor in one transaction was a company owned by the Respondent
• Purchaser in another transaction was his sister
• Defrauding Revenue of Stamp Duty
• Failed to rectify overcharging after accountants drew it to his attention
• Numerous transactions over an extended period

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted all allegations save dishonesty
• Did not dispute the facts