Tatiana Langridge

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

Tatiana Langridge, a senior associate solicitor on probation at Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP, knowingly completed a residential conveyancing transaction on 1 July 2022 without an executed mortgage deed, knowing one was required for completion. She did not inform the lender client (Clydesdale Bank) and acted contrary to the Lenders' Handbook and Conveyancing Protocol. The Tribunal applied the Ivey test and found her conduct dishonest, also finding breaches of integrity, failing to act in clients' best interests, and misleading the lender client. Despite mitigation including a toxic working environment, lack of supervision and no actual harm, the Tribunal held that pressure of work cannot justify dishonesty and found no exceptional circumstances. She was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay £17,403.74 in costs (reduced from £21,754.68).

Duties found breached:

• Act in the client's best interests
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• Honesty
• Integrity

Aggravating factors:

• Experienced conveyancing solicitor who knew completion without an executed mortgage deed was not permitted
• Acted contrary to lender client's express instructions in the Lenders' Handbook and breached the Conveyancing Protocol
• Failed to inform the lender client that the transaction was completed without the executed mortgage deed
• Conduct exposed clients to risk of potentially serious harm
• Conduct found to be dishonest, harming the reputation of the profession

Mitigating factors:

• Misconduct not planned and occurred on a single occasion of short duration
• No actual harm caused as mortgage deed was ultimately properly executed on 15 July 2022
• Difficult working circumstances with no support and absent supervising partner
• Inadequate systems and procedures at the Firm
• Full cooperation with the SRA and self-report
• Displayed some insight into her misconduct
• No previous disciplinary matters