Andrew Hugh Butler

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

Andrew Hugh Butler, a former Senior Partner and consultant at Worthingtons, admitted that between 2012 and 2018 he improperly transferred £19,289.54 from client account by creating invoices that did not reflect work done and duplicated charges, and that between 1993 and 2018 he failed to bank dividend cheques and remittances valued around £70,000 under an estate. He admitted his conduct was dishonest. The matter was resolved by Agreed Outcome on the papers. The Tribunal found dishonesty established and ordered he be struck off, with costs of £16,650.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was dishonest
• Knowingly created invoices that did not reflect work undertaken
• Knowingly duplicated charges
• Transferred monies to the Firm to which it was not entitled
• He was the COFA and MLRO during part of the relevant period
• Misconduct spanned a lengthy period (1993-2018)

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the allegations including dishonesty
• Cooperated by entering an Agreed Outcome