Law Society-v-Christopher William Hales

Edinburgh 13 May 2014.  The Tribunal having considered the Complaint dated 14 January 2014 at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Christopher William Hales, 74/1 Spottiswoode Street, Edinburgh; Find the Respondent guilty of Professional Misconduct in respect of his failure to comply with the requirements of the CML Handbook in respect of 13 different transactions, his failure to satisfy his common law duties when acting for a purchaser and a lender, his failure to act with utmost propriety towards his lender clients, his failure to comply with paragraph 3 of the Solicitors (Scotland) (Standards of Conduct) Practice Rules 2008 and his failure to comply with Rule 6(1) of the Accounts Etc Rules 2001; Strike the name of the Respondent, Christopher William Hales from the Roll of Solicitors in Scotland; Find the Respondent liable in the expenses of the Complainers, with the exception of the costs of preparation of the voluminous bundle of productions prepared by 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; and Direct that publicity will be given to this decision and that this publicity should include the name of the Respondent and may but has no need to include the names of anyone other than the Respondent. 

Alistair Cockburn

Chairman