Date

22 February, 2024

Charges

Robert Dallinson, a Fellow of CILEx, admits the following allegations of professional misconduct:

Allegations

Failing to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct and justify public trust in him, his profession and the provision and the provision of legal services by engaging in conduct that could undermine or affect adversely the confidence and trust placed in him by his client, employer, professional colleagues, the public and others. Contrary to Principle 2, Outcome 2.2. of the CILEx Code of Conduct

Failing to behave with honesty and integrity. Contrary to Principle 3, Outcomes 3.1 and 3.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct

In that, as part of being instructed to prepare lasting powers of attorney for a client in May 2017:

a. He wrote in dates purporting to be those on which his client had signed when he knew that his client had not signed on those dates in order to show that they were signed by the applicant before a medical professional.

He did this on two occasions – once in June 2017 and once in October 2017, on both occasions with a Property and Financial Affairs and a Health and Welfare Power of Attorney form.

b. His conduct in writing those dates was dishonest.

In consequence of this conduct, he was given a final written warning from his employer, Harrowells Limited, and on 6th September 2022, as part of a Regulatory Settlement Agreement with the SRA, he agreed to be the subject of a Control Order under Section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974 (as amended) which prohibited him from working in a legal practice.

Outcome – DBC

Robert Dallinson admitted all allegations and, in accordance with Rule 18(1) of the Enforcement Rules (ER), agreed to determine the allegations by consent and agreed a sanction that would be available to the Professional Conduct Panel or Disciplinary Tribunal.

Sanction – Exclusion (indefinite)

The sanction was approved by the Professional Conduct Panel, in accordance with Rule 18(3) ER Robert Dallinson was excluded from CILEx membership indefinitely, with no automatic reinstatement to CILEX membership.”