Between
| Applicant | Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd |
|---|---|
| Respondent | Julian Condliffe |
Case details
| Allegation | Breaches, Code of Conduct 2011, Code of Conduct for Firms 2019, Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, Dishonesty, Lack of Integrity, Solicitors Accounts Rules 2019, SRA Principles 2011, SRA Principles 2019 |
|---|---|
| Outcome | Strike off |
| Executive summary | Ms Condliffe was admitted to the Roll in 2012. At the time of allegations 1 and 2, detailed in the Rule 12 statement, she was sole director of PPW, which was a private property investment company, not a firm of solicitors. It was proved that, in her capacity as director, she misled three individuals who believed they were purchasing a residential property which they paid for, but which was never transferred into their names. It was also alleged and proved that Ms Condliffe misled the Applicant during an investigation in 2022, and the court during related proceedings in 2023. Ms Condliffe relied at all material times on the proposition that the individuals had entered into a common-law management tenancy with an option to purchase, whereas the individuals were in fact led to believe that they were purchasing the freehold property outright, following payment of completion monies and a sourcing fee, and signing the transfer form TR1. Ms Condliffe was found to have acted dishonestly. Allegations 3 and 4 were brought under the Rule 14 statement and arose from Ms Condliffe’s handling of client money and conduct during a separate SRA investigation in 2024. At this time, she owned Creative Legal Solutions Solicitors Limited, a conveyancing practice in Northamptonshire, of which she was sole owner, COLP, COFA and MLRO. The Applicant intervened into the firm on 17 January 2025 and Ms Condliffe’s practising certificate was suspended. Ms Condliffe admitted Allegation 3 which was the charge of allowing client money to be held in an account which did not meet regulatory requirements. This was a breach of the duty to uphold trust and confidence in the solicitors’ profession and the duty to act in the best interests of each client. Ms Condliffe also admitted breaches under the SRA Codes of Conduct for Firms and Solicitors and breaches of the Accounts Rules. Allegation 4, of providing the regulator with inaccurate, incomplete, and/or misleading information during a subsequent investigation, was found to be not proved. Ms Condliffe was struck off the Roll of Solicitors. |