Law Society-v-Meridith Graham Sykes
Interlocutor
Edinburgh 19th December 2007. The Tribunal having considered the Complaints dated 5th March 2007 and 29th June 2007 at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Meridith Graham Sykes, Solicitor, 25 Newton Place, Glasgow; Find the Respondent guilty of Professional Misconduct singularly and in cumulo in respect of his unconscionable delay in recording deeds, his failure to keep the books of his practice up to date, his failure to designate cheques, his taking of fees before fees notes were recorded, his failure to carry out monthly reconciliation of his firm’s clients account, his charging of excessive fees or fees for work which had not been carried out, his failure to comply with the Money Laundering Regulations 1993, his failure to carry out quarterly reconciliations of invested funds, his failure to invest clients’ funds, his failure to issue conflict letters, his acting in a situation in which there was a conflict of interest between him and his client where he had a personal financial interest in the subject matter of the advice given, his attempt to obtain payment from the Scottish Legal Aid Board by misrepresentation and his continued failure to obtemper the Accounts Rules in relation to his practice; Censure the Respondent; Fine him in the sum of £2,500 to be forfeit to Her Majesty and Direct in terms of Section 53(5) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 that any Practising Certificate held or to be issued to the Respondent shall be subject to such Restriction as will limit him to acting as a qualified assistant to and to being supervised by such employer or successive employers as may be approved by the Council of the Law Society of Scotland or the Practising Certificate Committee of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland and that for an aggregate period of at least three years; Find the Respondent liable in the expenses of the Complainers and in the expenses of the Tribunal as the same may be taxed by the auditor of the Court of Session on an agent and client indemnity basis in terms of Chapter Three of the last published Law Society’s Table of Fees for general business with a unit rate of £11.85; and Direct that publicity will be given to this decision and that this publicity should include the name of the Respondent.
Chairman