Richard George Connor

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

A sole practitioner solicitor failed to deliver his accountant's report, practised in breach of practising certificate conditions and then after his certificate was terminated, and repeatedly failed to respond to communications from the Authority and Legal Complaints Service. All five allegations were proved. No dishonesty was alleged or found. Given that the Respondent had suffered a mental breakdown and doubted he would ever be fit to work again, the Tribunal imposed an indefinite suspension and ordered costs of £1,762.50, not to be enforced without the Tribunal's permission due to his limited means.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Complaints procedure and handling
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports
• Hold a current practising certificate

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct placed clients potentially at risk
• Repeated failure to engage or communicate with the Authority, contributing to intervention into his practice

Mitigating factors:

• Respondent suffered a mental breakdown and doubted he would be mentally fit to work again
• No previous disciplinary sanctions
• No intention to re-apply for a practising certificate or remain on the Roll
• Endeavoured to act in clients' best interests whilst winding down his practice
• Limited means - no savings, lost his practice, not working