Tribunal fines solicitor £8.5k after £1m in irregular client billing transfers come to light
Simon Jonathan Tager, a solicitor formerly at a leading law firm, has been fined £8,500 after admitting to irregular client billing transfers totalling more than £1 million.
The case, brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), centred on allegations of lack of integrity and recklessness under the SRA Principles 2011. The SRA alleged that Mr Tager made multiple irregular transfers of billed client time between accounts, which in at least one instance led to a client being significantly overcharged.
Mr Tager admitted to carrying out the transfers, but he characterised the actions as a misguided form of internal “housekeeping” rather than an intentional attempt to defraud clients. He insisted the breaches were unintended and claimed there was no deliberate plan to cause financial harm.
The Tribunal considered the evidence in full and concluded that while Mr Tager’s actions fell short of dishonesty, they nevertheless represented a serious breach of professional standards. Recklessness and lack of integrity, it found, were sufficient to cause significant risk to both clients and the public’s trust in the profession.
The overcharging, particularly where it affected at least one client, was viewed as a serious aggravating factor. Even where harm is not widespread, the Tribunal stressed, the legal profession’s reputation depends on absolute transparency and fairness in billing.
Embed from Getty ImagesMr Tager’s mitigation included full and frank admissions, expressions of genuine remorse, and a substantial body of evidence attesting to his good character. He also highlighted that the irregular transfers were not motivated by personal gain, but rather by flawed internal processes and his own poor judgment in managing them.
The Tribunal acknowledged these points and accepted that Mr Tager’s conduct, while reckless, did not amount to deliberate dishonesty. This distinction played a role in the decision to impose a financial penalty rather than a suspension or strike-off.
Nonetheless, the Tribunal was clear: solicitors hold a position of trust and are responsible for ensuring absolute accuracy in all financial dealings with clients. Any action that risks overcharging—whether intentional or not—can erode confidence in the profession.
The fine of £8,500 was intended not only as punishment but also as a deterrent to others who might be tempted to take shortcuts or make “administrative” adjustments without full scrutiny. The decision serves as a stark reminder that billing practices must be transparent, accurate, and fully compliant with regulatory standards.
In delivering the outcome, the Tribunal reinforced that recklessness in financial management is incompatible with the integrity required of solicitors. Whether labelled “housekeeping” or otherwise, any action that results in unjustified financial charges to clients will be met with firm regulatory action.
For Mr Tager, the ruling ends a chapter of professional embarrassment that will remain on public record. For the wider legal profession, it stands as another warning from the SRA that client billing is an area of zero tolerance for mismanagement—and that even unintended breaches carry serious consequences.
