Alexander David Edmund Hayes Gallagher

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

Mr Gallagher, a self-employed advocate instructed by LPC Law, arrived late to a Wandsworth County Court hearing on 7 August 2023, missing it. He then created an attendance note falsely stating he had requested an adjournment and had spoken with defence counsel about non-receipt of documents, when in fact the court had adjourned on its own volition and defence counsel had already left. He provided this misleading note to the Firm and its client. The Tribunal found the allegation proved in full, including express dishonesty under the Ivey test, and found no exceptional circumstances. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £9,419. He did not attend or engage with proceedings.

Duties found breached:

• Honesty
• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Proven dishonesty that was deliberate and calculated
• Planned conduct to cover up his lateness/mistake
• Breach of trust placed in him by the Firm and its client
• Experienced solicitor solely responsible for misconduct

Mitigating factors:

• Single episode of brief duration
• Otherwise unblemished career
• Full and frank admissions to the Firm and during the SRA investigation
• No financial loss to the underlying lay client