Robin Edward Stubbings

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

Robin Edward Stubbings, an experienced solicitor and sole owner/COLP/COFA of CC Bell & Son, was found to have failed to perform conveyancing undertakings (failing to supply RX3 and ST5 forms upon completion, causing a 15-month delay and financial harm to the buyers' solicitors' clients) in breach of Rule 1.3 and Principle 2, and to have failed to co-operate with the SRA's investigation in breach of Rules 7.3, 7.4 and Principle 2. The Tribunal proceeded in his absence. No dishonesty was alleged or found. Given the seriousness aggravated by his prior 2019 disciplinary finding and 2022 RSA for similar conduct, the Tribunal imposed a Level 4 fine of £17,500, an 18-month restriction order, and costs of £5,500. The Tribunal declined to find misconduct in his failure to provide financial information.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Diligence and timeliness
• Cooperate openly with regulators
• Honour professional undertakings

Aggravating factors:

• Previous disciplinary finding in 2019 (fined £15,000) for similar failings including failure to cooperate with SRA
• Regulatory Settlement Agreement in 2022 (fined £2,000) for failure to cooperate with SRA and failure to maintain public trust
• Repeated and similar nature of misconduct
• Extremely experienced solicitor
• Caused direct harm to Crofts' clients (delay and additional financial expense)

Mitigating factors:

• Conduct not motivated to commit misconduct
• Acknowledged he had taken too long to provide forms and expressed regret