Michael Gerald Dotchon

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

Michael Gerald Dotchon, sole principal of Bailey and Bailey Solicitors, faced allegations arising from four conveyancing transactions and improper transfers from client account. In three conveyancing matters he failed to report material information (back-to-back sales, price uplifts, ownership under six months) to lender clients. In the Mr and Mrs A matter he failed to identify clients and dishonestly witnessed signatures on a Transfer deed when the signatories were not present, facilitating a fraud. He also dishonestly transferred residual client balances (£4,652.01, £1,632, £428.78) to office account purportedly for costs where there was no entitlement, creating a cash shortage of £6,691.70 (later repaid), and failed to respond to the SRA. The Tribunal made express findings of dishonesty on both the witnessing and the transfers. Finding no exceptional circumstances, it ordered him struck off the Roll and to pay costs of £24,380.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty occurred on three separate occasions over more than three years, not momentary
• Transfers occurred after the first part of the SRA investigation had commenced
• Transfers on G and Mr D matters helped keep the Firm within its overdraft limit
• Respondent was an unsatisfactory witness whose denial of knowing Mr Bailey was executor was not credible
• Cavalier approach to putting matters right; likely beneficiaries in G matter would never receive their money
• Substantial harm to the reputation of the profession
• Failed to identify clients and falsely witnessed signatures on a Transfer facilitating a fraudulent transaction

Mitigating factors:

• Long and previously unblemished career of over 30 years
• Positive character testimonials from professionals and clients
• Working under stress and depression with his wife's ill-health at the relevant time
• Monies eventually repaid to clients/beneficiaries or paid into Court
• Limited or no personal gain
• No previous disciplinary findings