Solicitor fined £20,000 for ‘reckless disregard and risk of harm’ to his clients
Summary
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has fined sole practitioner Bryn Roberts £20,148 after finding repeated breaches of regulatory obligations over several years, including failures in client care, complaints handling and client account management. The investigation identified a client account shortage, missing reconciliations and other issues that the SRA said created a risk of significant harm to clients.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors often rely on solicitors to handle client money, estate administration and transaction-related documentation properly. This case is a reminder that weaknesses in legal practice can delay matters, increase risk around client funds and affect confidence in the wider conveyancing process.
Key points
- SRA found a reckless disregard of regulatory duties over a five-year period
- Client account shortage of £30,848.73 was identified and later replaced
- No client account reconciliations had been completed
- Multiple complaints and poor co-operation with the SRA and Legal Ombudsman were reported
- SRA said the conduct had the potential to cause significant harm to clients
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