John Peter Joseph Corr

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

The Respondent, an equity partner at Pearson Rowe, admitted "hiving off" £13,725.37 in costs due to the partnership from 12 matrimonial cases over approximately three years, and altering a client's (Ms EET) cheque payable to the firm by inserting his own name as payee. The Tribunal found both allegations substantiated and expressly found the Respondent had acted dishonestly (applying the test that ordinary people would regard the conduct as dishonest and that he was aware of the impropriety), noting that intention permanently to deprive was not a necessary element. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay agreed costs of £5,000.

Duties found breached:

• No improper use of client money
• No improper fee-sharing or partnership
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct continued over approximately three years
• Took money/cheques from his own partnership without knowledge or agreement
• Altered a client's cheque to mislead the client's bank

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the facts and allegations / did not contest
• Kept a full and detailed record of amounts taken and files
• Intention to repay all moneys (no intention permanently to deprive); was remortgaging to repay
• Under financial pressure involving his mother at the material time
• Expressed remorse and recognised harm caused