Solicitor bled client trust dry: £32,500 fine after client‑account chaos revealed
In June 2025, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal handed down a stinging judgment against Rory Peter Heddle Fordyce of Taylor Fordyce Limited, finding him guilty of multiple breaches of Solicitors Regulation Authority rules.
Over the course of a three-day hearing, Fordyce stood accused of misusing client funds, failing anti-money laundering protocols, and treating the firm’s client account as his personal piggy bank. The Tribunal upheld three damning allegations, resulting in a £32,500 fine, £50,000 in costs, and a series of strict practice restrictions lasting five years.
Embed from Getty ImagesMillion-Pound Mystery: Politically Exposed Funds Mishandled
Between 2013 and 2015, Fordyce received two high-value payments from Anar Mahmudov, a politically exposed person. The first, in January 2014, was for £1.1 million. The second, in April 2015, was nearly £1.95 million. Despite the red flags, Fordyce failed to properly verify the source of the funds.
Rather than conduct direct inquiries with Mahmudov, Fordyce relied on inconsistent third-party documents and explanations. In one instance, funds were claimed to have come from Crystal Motors, while elsewhere they were attributed to Mahmudov’s sister.
The Tribunal found Fordyce’s actions breached multiple SRA Principles, including those relating to maintaining public trust, integrity, and effective risk management.
Client Account Turned into Private Banking Channel
In a clear violation of professional rules, Fordyce used the firm’s client account as a personal banking facility. From January to April 2014, he facilitated transfers totalling £1.1 million between different parties. None of these had any connection to legitimate legal matters.
There were no property deals or mortgage transactions to justify the flow of funds—just a string of unexplained inter-ledger payments. This blatant misuse violated Rule 14.5 of the Solicitors Accounts Rules, which strictly prohibits using client accounts as banking facilities.
£638,000 in Personal Withdrawals
Perhaps most shockingly, between 2014 and 2022, Fordyce withdrew over £638,000 from the client account to cover personal costs. These included loans, tax payments, car expenses, and other private expenditures.
Fordyce admitted to the withdrawals and accepted that there was no legal basis for them. The Tribunal deemed this a grave misuse of client money and further evidence of his disregard for regulatory obligations.
Other Loan Allegations Dismissed
Two additional allegations were not upheld. One involved a £250,000 loan from Mahmudov in 2018, which the Tribunal found did not breach rules as the client relationship had largely ended. Another concerned a £138,200 loan Fordyce extended in 2021, which lacked sufficient connection to any client matter to fall under SRA jurisdiction.
Disciplinary Measures Imposed
In response to the proven misconduct, the Tribunal imposed a £32,500 fine and ordered Fordyce to pay £50,000 in costs. It also imposed sweeping restrictions: Fordyce cannot act as a sole practitioner, sole manager, compliance officer, or money laundering reporting officer. He is also banned from signing client account cheques for five years.
Although the Tribunal acknowledged that no individual client suffered financial loss, it stressed that the scale and deliberate nature of the misconduct seriously undermined public confidence in the profession. The ruling ensures Fordyce faces tight oversight should he continue in practice.
This case serves as a stark warning about the catastrophic consequences of blurring personal and professional finances—especially when handling the trust funds of others.