Grahame Leslie Albert Wheelband

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

The respondent, an experienced conveyancing clerk/legal executive at Blakemores, admitted purchasing ten properties from a developer client while acting for himself, the vendor and the mortgagee, and failing to disclose material facts (allowances, direct deposits and that properties were let) to building society lenders. The Tribunal found the allegations substantiated. There was no express finding of dishonesty. The Tribunal made an order under Section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 restricting his employment by solicitors without Law Society permission, and ordered him to pay agreed costs of £900. The Tribunal expressed hope the Law Society would favourably consider granting consent to his future employment.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• No own-interest conflict

Aggravating factors:

• Experienced legal executive (Fellow of ILEX) who should have known not to act in conflict and to disclose material facts to lenders
• Involved ten property purchases with mortgages obtained where lenders were not made aware of material facts

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the facts and gave clear acceptance of them
• Long, previously unblemished career of some 30 years in the profession
• Opportunity was introduced/proposed by a senior member of the firm to assist a client's cash flow difficulties
• Matter reported to another solicitor at the firm; partners were aware
• No financial loss to anyone; properties stood up to valuation and tax affairs in order
• Considerable delay in bringing proceedings causing anxiety