Anthony Scotland Grassick Walker

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

Anthony Scotland Grassick Walker, admitted 1985, practised under the unregistered style Anthony Walker Legal Services. He charged a client £3,062.50 as VAT using an invalid VAT number when not VAT registered, never refunding the client or paying HMRC; the Tribunal expressly found this dishonest under the Twinsectra test. He also failed to account for £8,746.65 of client money held in a private rather than client account, practised uncertificated after his practising certificate terminated on 12 December 2007, practised uninsured, failed to comply with a County Court judgment (£39,528.73), and failed to cooperate with or reply to the SRA. The Respondent did not attend. All allegations were found substantiated. He was struck off and ordered to pay costs of £19,827.56.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Personal probity and fitness to practise
• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• No conflict between current clients
• Handle inadvertently received material
• No improper use of client money
• Report serious misconduct of others
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Abuse of position of trust as a solicitor
• Failure to account for client monies
• Charging VAT when not entitled and retaining the money
• Complete disregard for regulatory requirements
• Did not attend or respond