Anthony
Burns
Solicitor
144500
Decision - Fined
Outcome: Fine
Outcome date: 24 June 2022
Published date: 1 July 2022
Firm details
Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome
Name: Mawdsleys
Address(es): 152 Lord Street, Southport, PR9 0QB, England
Firm ID: 571085
Outcome details
This outcome was reached by SRA decision.
Decision details
Financial penalty and costs
Reasons/basis
Anthony Burns is a solicitor and practised as the recognised sole practitioner of Mawdsleys Solicitors whose head office is at 152 Lord Street, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0QB, England.
It was found that Mr Burns:
- Failed to comply with a decision of the Legal Ombudsman dated 6 January 2021 which required him to pay £3,232.57 to a former client. He failed to comply with this decision for over 12 months and his conduct in this regard breached principle 2 of the SRA Principles 2019 and paragraph 7.3 of the Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs.
- Failed to respond to requests from the Legal Ombudsman for explanations and information during the course of its investigation. His conduct in this regard breached principle 2 of the SRA Principles 2019 and paragraph 7.3 of the Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs.
- Failed to respond to requests from the SRA for explanations and information during the course of its investigation. His conduct in this regard breached paragraphs 7.3 and 7.4 of the Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs.
Mr Burns was issued with a £2,000 financial penalty and was ordered to pay the SRA’s costs of £1,350 in investigating this matter.
SRA Principle 2: You act in a way that upholds public trust and confidence in the solicitors' profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons.
Paragraph 7.3: You cooperate with the SRA, other regulators, ombudsmen, and those bodies with a role overseeing and supervising the delivery of, or investigating concerns in relation to, legal services.
Paragraph 7.4: You respond promptly to the SRA and:
- provide full and accurate explanations, information and documentation in response to any requests or requirements; and
- ensure that relevant information which is held by you, or by third parties carrying out functions on your behalf which are critical to the delivery of your legal services, is available for inspection by the SRA.