SDT dismisses all misconduct allegations against solicitor accused of dishonesty in SLAPP matter
A partner at London firm Hamlins LLP has been cleared of all allegations in a closely watched case involving claims linked to strategic lawsuits against public participation, widely known as SLAPPs. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) yesterday dismissed every misconduct allegation brought against Christopher Mark Hutchings, who qualified in 1992, after concluding that none of the claims had been proven.
Hutchings had been accused of acting “untruthfully and dishonestly” during a telephone conversation with another solicitor, identified as Solicitor G, in which he was alleged to have said that counsel advised a client had a strong basis for commencing contempt proceedings. Hutchings denied any wrongdoing from the outset.
The proceedings initially took place in public, with an anonymity order in place to protect information subject to legal professional privilege. However, the tribunal later moved the hearing to private after an online news article identifying individuals covered by the anonymity order was published and subsequently removed.
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Closing submissions were delivered in private before a three-person SDT panel, with the outcome later announced publicly. All allegations brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) were dismissed. Announcing the decision, panel chair Lisa Boyce said no costs order would be made against Hutchings.
Boyce stated there was “no good reason to depart from the starting point that no order should be made”, adding that the case involved allegations of dishonesty and that the panel did not consider the proceedings to have been improperly initiated.
During the hearing, Hutchings was represented by Ben Hubble KC. The tribunal also heard that Hutchings had made an application for his costs to be determined on the papers, while the SRA argued that consideration of costs should be adjourned until after circulation of the full written judgment. The tribunal rejected both applications.
Hutchings was represented by international firm DAC Beachcroft. Following the decision, partner Clare Hughes-Williams said Hutchings was “hugely relieved” to have been cleared. She welcomed the outcome and paid tribute to the legal team led by Hubble KC for its work on the case. She added that the allegations and resulting publicity had made the process “extremely difficult” for Hutchings and that he was “hugely relieved that he has been exonerated”.
The case has drawn significant interest due to its connection with SLAPP-related issues, an area of increasing public and regulatory scrutiny. While the tribunal did not make findings on the broader SLAPP debate, the dismissal of all allegations marks the conclusion of a matter that had attracted considerable attention.
The SDT’s full written judgment is expected to clarify its reasoning, including how it assessed the contested evidence and the basis on which each allegation was rejected.