Law Society-v-Alan Livingstone

Edinburgh 12 December 2019.  The Tribunal having considered the Complaint dated 12 August 2019 at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Alan Livingstone, Borders Legal Limited trading as Hastings Legal, 15 The Square, Kelso; Find the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct in respect of his breach of Rules 3, 5 and 7 of the Solicitors (Scotland) Practice Rules 1986 and Rules 3 and 6 of the Solicitors (Scotland) (Standards of Conduct) Practice Rules 2008; Censure the Respondent; Fine him in the sum of £2,500 to be Forfeit to Her Majesty; Find the Respondent liable in the expenses of the Complainers and of the Tribunal including expenses of the Clerk, chargeable on a time and line basis as the same may be taxed by the Auditor of the Court of Session on an agent and client, client paying basis in terms of Chapter Three of the last published Law Society’s Table of Fees for general business with a unit rate of £14.00; Direct that publicity will be given to this decision and that this publicity should include the name of the Respondent but need not identify any other person; Allow the Secondary Complainer 28 days from date of intimation of these findings to lodge a written claim for compensation.

Beverley Atkinson

  Vice Chair

Compensation Interlocutor:

Thornhill, 12 March 2020. The Tribunal having considered the Complaint at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Alan Livingstone, Borders Legal Limited trading as Hastings Legal, 15 The Square, Kelso; Allows the Secondary Complainer to withdraw her Claim for Compensation; Discharges the compensation hearing fixed for 24 March 2020 and Finds no expenses due to or by any party in relation to the Claim for Compensation.

Colin Bell

Vice Chair