Law Society-v-Mark Richard Thorley

By Video Conference, 20 August 2020.  The Tribunal having considered the Complaint at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Mark Richard Thorley, Thorley Stephenson Limited, 20 Hopetoun Street, Edinburgh; Find the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct in respect of that he (a) Inserted into a Minute of Agreement a provision requiring the signatories of the Agreement to refrain from making any complaint or raise any proceedings against the solicitors representing the other party; (b) Required that the Secondary Complainer sign a letter of discharge agreeing to withdrawal of the complaints already made to the SLCC; and (c) Wrote a letter threatening to raise court proceedings in the event that the Secondary Complainer did not withdraw the new complaint to the SLCC; Censure the Respondent; 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; and allow the Secondary Complainer, Dr A, 28 days from the date of intimation of these findings to lodge a written claim for compensation.

 Beverley Atkinson

  Vice Chair