Paul Andrew Smith

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

Paul Andrew Smith, a solicitor at Williamsons Solicitors, admitted all allegations including dishonesty. Between 2013 and 2014 he made untrue statements to clients (Mrs PB, Mr SS, Mr MK, Mrs DO) and third party funder USDAW about the progress of personal injury claims, fabricated documents (including a defence and a letter to costs consultants), made payments from his own bank account to disguise his failures, and failed to issue proceedings in time on several matters, allowing limitation periods to expire. The Tribunal found dishonesty proved on his admissions and the documents. Despite considerable personal mitigation (inexperience, heavy caseload, ill relative, depression, self-funded compensation to clients, early admissions and remorse), no exceptional circumstances were found, so per SRA v Sharma the Respondent was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £3,847.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was deliberate and repeated over a period of time
• Ought to have known conduct breached obligations to protect the public and reputation of the profession
• Fabricated documents on a number of files and misled clients and third party funder

Mitigating factors:

• Made payments from his own personal funds to two clients to ensure they suffered no loss
• Notified employers of the circumstances via handover email
• Early admissions and full co-operation with proceedings
• Genuine insight and remorse; low risk of repetition
• Previously unblemished career
• Positive character evidence from Mr Brewer
• Inexperience, excessive caseload, lack of supervision and difficult personal circumstances (ill relative, depression)