Natasha Janet Dionne Fairs

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

Natasha Janet Dionne Fairs, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell LLP, admitted that between February 2020 and April 2023 she created inaccurate, misleading and inflated time records exceeding the actual time spent on client matters, deliberately selecting files where the time would be written off (closed files or agreed costs). The Tribunal found her conduct dishonest, deliberate, calculated and sustained. Although no direct client harm occurred, colleagues received a smaller share of fees and the Firm's resourcing and forecasting were affected, while she benefited through bonuses and promotion. Dealt with on the papers by way of agreed outcome, the Tribunal found no exceptional circumstances and ordered she be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £5,200.

Duties found breached:

• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues

Aggravating factors:

• Conduct was deliberate, calculated and sustained over at least three years
• Planned course of action, selecting files where time would be written off
• Experienced solicitor of almost twenty years and a Senior Associate
• Adversely impacted colleagues who received smaller share of fees
• Adversely impacted the Firm's resourcing, WIP and fee forecasting
• Respondent benefited via bonuses and promotion
• Conduct likely to have continued but for colleagues alerting the Firm

Mitigating factors:

• Serious illness and death of a close family member
• Home-schooling children during the pandemic
• High-volume, low-value caseload and heavy competing responsibilities
• Full admissions, remorse and insight
• No direct harm to clients