Christopher Robert Fuller

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

Mr Fuller, a non-solicitor clerk employed by Hewetts Solicitors, acted for the Page family in the administration of an estate while also, through his separate business Exnine Developments, entering into an undisclosed agreement with the property purchaser (Sahana Homes) that secured payments to himself. He admitted conflict of interest and failing to advise clients to seek independent advice. The Tribunal disbelieved his evidence—including a late allegation that the clients had devised a fraudulent scheme, which it found was concocted for the hearing—and found the disputed allegations of making a secret profit and misleading/taking unfair advantage of clients substantiated. The Tribunal made a Section 43 order restricting his employment by solicitors and ordered costs of £13,000. No express finding of dishonesty was recorded.

Duties found breached:

• No taking unfair advantage
• Advise on alternatives, settlement and outcome
• No own-interest conflict
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Abused a long-standing personal and professional relationship of trust with the Page family
• Failed to disclose his own business interests (Exnine Developments) and financial benefits
• Gave inconsistent accounts to the Law Society and concocted a story alleging the clients' fraud at the hearing

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted allegations (i) and (iv)
• Accepted a Section 43 order was appropriate for the admitted allegations
• Long-standing professional relationship with the clients