Colin George Horne Wilson

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

Colin George Horne Wilson, an Aberdeen solicitor, was found guilty of professional misconduct in cumulo for a protracted course of dishonest conduct over more than two years involving misrepresentation and deception of four clients (Mr A, Ms Lovie, Ms Cowie, Ms B), a fellow solicitor and the Employment Tribunal, holding himself out as a solicitor while his practising certificate was suspended following sequestration (breach of s.23 of the 1980 Act and Articles 6 and 7 of the Code of Conduct), acting without professional indemnity insurance and intromitting with client funds without a client account, and failing to respond to Law Society correspondence and statutory notices. The Tribunal rejected the Respondent's double jeopardy and personal bar submissions. It expressly found the Respondent had acted dishonestly and, given the seriousness and protracted nature of the conduct, ordered his name struck off the Roll and found him liable in expenses. The Secondary Complainers withdrew their compensation applications.

Duties found breached:

• Not mislead the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Keep client informed and respond promptly
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Hold a current practising certificate
• No baseless or threatened misconduct report

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct persisted over a significant period in excess of two years, not a spontaneous aberration
• Numerous deliberate misrepresentations/deceptions
• Multiple categories of recipients affected - clients, colleagues, tribunals and courts
• Financial nature to irregularities - took payments from clients while holding himself out as solicitor without insurance or client account
• Conduct presented a danger to the public and damaging to the reputation of the profession

Mitigating factors:

• Previously good record extending 20 years with no prior transgressions
• Embarrassed and ashamed by his conduct
• Cooperation with proceedings via extensive Joint Minutes
• Conduct occurred during a particularly difficult period in his private life (loss of a child, failed litigation, financial crisis, divorce)
• Ill health (aggressive osteomyelitis)
• No suggestion of financial impropriety in the traditional sense; creditors paid nearly in full (93%)