C T Weeden
JurisdictionEngland & Wales
BodySolicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT)
Professionsolicitor
Case number10561/2010
Date01/01/2010
OutcomeSuspend - Indefinite
Allegation / charges
Breaches, Failures, Others
Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision
SanctionSuspension
CostsGBP 5,120
Dishonesty foundNo
A sole practitioner failed to progress an estate administration over five years (resulting in a £25,000+ inheritance tax penalty), failed to supervise an unadmitted employee, failed to cooperate with the SRA/LCS and comply with an Adjudicator's directions, failed to maintain indemnity insurance or apply to the ARP, and breached an undertaking to Barclays. The Tribunal found all six allegations fully substantiated. The Respondent did not engage and was suspended indefinitely, with health issues noted but unevidenced. No finding of dishonesty was made.
Duties found breached:
Duties engaged
- Professional independence
- Advise objectively, not a mere conduit
- Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
- No conflict between current clients
- Safeguard documents and limit liens
- Supervise staff and delegated work
- Professional indemnity insurance
- Cooperate openly with regulators
- No baseless or threatened misconduct report
- Honour professional undertakings