At the commencement of the hearing, Mr Barca made limited admissions to the allegations. As regards allegation 1.1, he admitted that he had breached Principle 6 in relation to Client P only. All other matters were denied. The Tribunal found that in addition to breaching Principle 6 as regards Client P, he had also breached Principle 6 in regards of his dealings with Clients I and J. All other matters were dismissed including the allegation that Mr Barca’s conduct had been dishonest or reckless in the alternative.

Mr Barca admitted that there had been a significant risk of an own client conflict in relation to Clients A, B and C, and that this amounted to a breach of Principle 6. He denied that Clients K and M (as described by the Applicant) were clients. Further, it was denied that his conduct lacked integrity in breach of Principle 2. The Tribunal found that Clients K and M were clients, and that there had been a significant risk of an own client conflict such that it amounted to a breach of Principle 6. The Tribunal did not find that Mr Barca’s conduct lacked integrity as alleged.