Sir Gerrard Anthony Neale

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

Sir Gerrard Anthony Neale, a consultant solicitor with Radcliffes, became involved in escrow/Neutral Holders Agreements with an Isle of Man company (W) that bore the hallmarks of prime bank instrument fraud. He signed agreements holding investor funds and released fees to W in multiple transactions, endorsed bankers drafts without authority, acted in conflict of interest, and concealed the transactions from his firm while retaining 80% of the fees. He admitted the allegations but denied dishonesty. Applying the Twinsectra and Royal Brunei tests, the Tribunal found his conduct fell below normally accepted standards of honest conduct and could not be explained by ignorance or naivety given his experience, making an express finding of dishonesty. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £7,484.

Duties found breached:

• Professional independence
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Respondent was intelligent and experienced solicitor
• Acts of commission: asked one client checks but not others
• Accepted substantial fees for little advice
• Willingness to endorse bankers drafts without authority
• Continued to act despite conflict of interest
• Concealed transactions from partners in the Firm from which he profited (80% of fees)
• Ignored Law Society warnings on money laundering and bank instrument fraud

Mitigating factors:

• No previous disciplinary issues with OSS or Law Society
• Expressed remorse and regret
• Arranged for fees to be repaid
• Now partly retired and of limited means
• Long career of public and pro bono service