Tribunal found solicitor knowingly misled insurers and breached court orders, resulting in strike-off
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has struck solicitor Anthony Burns off the Roll after finding multiple allegations proved, including dishonesty, failures to comply with court orders, and misleading insurers.
The judgment followed a hearing on 8 April 2026 in proceedings brought by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Mr Burns did not attend the hearing and was not represented.
The tribunal heard that Mr Burns was the recognised sole practitioner, owner, manager, Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP), Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA), Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), and Money Laundering Compliance Officer (MLCO) at Mawdsleys Solicitors.
The case centred on longstanding failures to comply with a Legal Ombudsman decision issued in October 2017 concerning the release of trust funds linked to a client matter dating back to 2007. The Ombudsman had ordered the firm to pay £400 compensation and confirm the release of trust funds. The tribunal found that Mr Burns failed to comply fully for several years, forcing the Ombudsman to seek enforcement through Liverpool County Court in January 2023.
Although the compensation payment was eventually made in August 2022, the trust funds were not released until 26 April 2023.
The tribunal also found that Mr Burns failed to comply promptly with subsequent court orders connected to estate administration proceedings. One order carried a penal notice warning that failure to comply could result in contempt proceedings, imprisonment, a fine, or seizure of assets.
According to the judgment, a contempt application remained live against Mr Burns for 153 days before the issues were resolved in December 2023.
A separate allegation concerned professional indemnity insurance proposal forms completed in September 2021 and September 2023. The tribunal found that inaccurate and misleading information had been provided to prospective insurers.
The forms failed to disclose Mr Burns’ 2008 money laundering conviction, previous SRA investigations, regulatory findings, court orders, and ongoing disciplinary matters.
During an interview with the SRA in March 2024, Mr Burns accepted that the forms contained inaccurate information and described the omissions as “indefensible”. However, he denied acting dishonestly.
The tribunal rejected that explanation. Applying the test in Ivey v Genting Casinos, it concluded that Mr Burns knowingly omitted relevant information and that ordinary decent people would regard the conduct as dishonest.
The tribunal said his conduct demonstrated disregard for regulatory obligations and damaged public trust in the profession. It also noted previous disciplinary findings against him linked to failures under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
In its sanction decision, the tribunal concluded that no lesser penalty would protect public confidence in the profession. It ordered that Mr Burns be struck off the Roll of Solicitors and directed him to pay SRA costs of £39,335.90.