Michael Peter Anthony Baldwin

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

Michael Peter Anthony Baldwin, a solicitor and trustee, failed to disclose to his former wife her entitlement under the B W Trust (of which he was sole surviving trustee) and failed to disclose his and her trust assets in affidavits of means in matrimonial proceedings. The Tribunal found both allegations substantiated and expressly found that he had dishonestly failed to disclose material facts in affidavits as a device to serve his own ends to the detriment of his former wife, breaching his duty to the court by deposing to facts he knew were untrue. Despite substantial mitigation (acrimonious divorce, mother's death, partnership difficulties, long distinguished career), the Tribunal struck him off the Roll and ordered him to pay costs of £4,848.78, with filing of the order suspended for 28 days.

Duties found breached:

• Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Disclose material information to client
• No improper benefit, loan or bequest

Aggravating factors:

• Mature and experienced solicitor who knew his obligations as a trustee
• Used his position as trustee/solicitor to disadvantage a person he felt aggrieved by
• Persistent non-disclosure over an appreciable time across three affidavits
• Dishonestly failed to disclose material facts as a device to serve his own ends to the detriment of his former wife
• Accused his former wife of non-disclosure while doing the same thing himself
• On strength of his dissembling a consent financial order was set aside and replaced to his greater advantage

Mitigating factors:

• Long and previously exemplary career as naval officer (26 years) and solicitor
• Acrimonious and painful divorce causing intense personal distress
• Death of his elderly mother in distressing circumstances at the same time
• Deteriorating relationship with partners who gave him no support despite awareness of his difficulties
• Expressed deep regret and accepted errors of judgement
• Chancery judge found he did not intend to take his wife's share for his own benefit
• Numerous supporting letters; substantial mitigation explored in detail
• Isolated incident unlikely to be repeated