Michael Thomas Connolly

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

Michael Thomas Connolly, a solicitor and head of a matrimonial department, deceived two sets of clients by falsely telling them that proceedings had been issued and settlements/awards obtained, when in fact no proceedings had been commenced. He paid the clients sums approximating what they would have received from his own money and kept the matters off his employer's books. He admitted the allegation of conduct unbefitting a solicitor. The Tribunal found deliberate and repeated deception, holding that a solicitor who deliberately lied to clients could not continue in practice. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £851, with filing of the order suspended for one month to allow orderly handover of client matters.

Duties found breached:

• Cease acting on client perjury or disobedience
• No taking unfair advantage

Aggravating factors:

• Deliberate and repeated deception of clients over a period of time
• Not a one-off aberration but ongoing misleading of clients
• No file opened with employers and matters concealed from the firm

Mitigating factors:

• Admitted the matters from an early stage and was candid, not seeking to resile from admissions
• Clients suffered no financial loss as the Respondent paid them from his own resources
• No financial benefit to the Respondent and no misappropriation of client funds
• Was suffering considerable stress at the time
• Positive reference from former employers
• Expressed regret and put in place measures to prevent recurrence