Siobhan Sullivan

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

Siobhan Sullivan, a solicitor employed at Brodies LLP in its personal injury unit, engaged in a prolonged course of dishonest conduct over approximately eight years (from around 2008/2011 until 2016) affecting roughly 135 cases. She abandoned or settled actions without client instructions, misled clients about outcomes, diverted judicial expenses payable to Brodies to pay fictitious damages and fees and to meet defenders' expenses, banked monies to wrong client accounts, created false case-management entries (time records, letters, WIP), and misled colleagues including a partner, her line manager and cash room staff. She confessed to the firm on 21 July 2016, cooperated with the investigation, and resigned on 5 August 2016. She did not take money for herself and no client was left out of pocket; the firm sustained an unquantified but significant loss. The Tribunal found her guilty of professional misconduct in cumulo involving extensive dishonesty and ordered her name struck off the Roll of Solicitors. She was found liable for the Complainers' and Tribunal's expenses (taxed, party and party, unit rate £18). Publicity to include her name but anonymise others.

Duties found breached:

• Act only on proper, lawful instructions
• Honesty
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report
• No conflict between current clients
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Prolonged course of conduct over approximately eight years
• Significant and repeated dishonesty
• Affected approximately 135 separate matters
• Lied to clients and colleagues including a partner, line manager and cash room staff
• Created false entries to facilitate deception
• Caused significant financial loss to the firm
• Exploited the trust placed in her

Mitigating factors:

• Voluntarily confessed to the firm out of the blue
• Full cooperation with the investigation
• Admitted professional misconduct and accepted guilt since 2016
• No previous findings of misconduct
• Did not take money for herself / no personal financial gain
• Ensured no clients were left out of pocket
• Was under significant work stress affecting her health
• Lack of effective supervision/scrutiny of her instructions