Earlier this year the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
(SDT) demonstrated how seriously it treats a
breach of a Regulatory Settlement Agreement (RSA)
by an individual. A Solicitor, Mr Bryson, had previously entered
into a RSA with the SRA in May 2010 pursuant to which he had
undertaken to make all reasonable efforts to trace and contact
affected clients, having previously made unjustified deductions
from their damages in respect of a "brokers fee" paid to
a referrer. In consideration of his entering into this RSA he was
severely reprimanded by the SRA and ordered to pay the costs of the
investigation as well as providing full restitution to all of the
affected clients.
It became apparent that Mr Bryson did not contact the clients as
he had agreed and his default was reported to the SDT. The SDT felt
that Mr Bryson's good faith must be open to question. Mr Bryson
was suspended from practice for an indefinite period and ordered to
pay the SRA's costs of £20,000.00.
