Law Society-v-Nigel William Frew Ford

Edinburgh 1 November 2019.  The Tribunal having considered the Complaint dated 22 March 2019 at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Nigel William Frew Ford, Fords Daly Legal Limited, Office 1, Evans Business Centre, 1 Begg Road, John Smith Business Park, Kirkcaldy; Find the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct in respect that he (a) acted contrary to the CML Handbook, (b) contravened Rule 6(1) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Accounts etc Rules 2001, (c) failed to act diligently and with the utmost propriety in respect of dealings with his lender client while acting for both lender and purchaser, (d) failed to act in the best interests of his lender clients, (e) failed to communicate effectively with his lender clients and knowingly misled them by signing Certificates of Title when he had not complied with his obligations to each lender prior to doing so; 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; and 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.

Nicholas Whyte

  Chair