Between
| Applicant | Solicitors Regulation Authority Ltd |
|---|---|
| Respondent | Timothy Eagle |
Case details
| Allegation | Code of Conduct for Solicitors, REL's & RFL's 2019, SRA Principles 2019 |
|---|---|
| Outcome | Suspend - Fixed Period |
| Executive summary | Mr Eagle was admitted to the Roll in October 1983. At the time of the alleged misconduct, he was the Senior Partner at the Firm. He resigned from the Firm in 2023 and does not now hold a practising certificate. The alleged misconduct took place on 23 December 2022 at the Firm following the Firm’s Christmas lunch and when Christmas celebrations took place back at the office after the Christmas lunch. Mr Eagle was unable to work at the Firm between September 2021 and August 2022 due to severe ill-health. At the time of the alleged misconduct Mr Eagle worked at the Firm four days a week. The Rule 12 Statement was dated 24 January 2025. Part One Standard Directions were issued by the Tribunal dated 3 February 2025 and Part Two Standard Directions were issued by the Tribunal dated 6 May 2025. Mr Eagle filed and served the Respondent’s Answer on 14 April 2025. In his Answer he made partial admissions but made arguments as to mitigation on account of ill-health. He accepted breaches of Principles 2 and 6 of the Principles and Rule 1.5 of the Code. He did not admit that he breached Principle 5 of the Principles and denied that he failed to act with integrity. In his Answer Mr Eagle did not admit that his conduct in Allegations 1.1 to 1.4 was sexually motivated and/or sexual in nature By an application dated 26 August 2025, the SRA applied to the Tribunal for anonymisation orders for seven individuals, Persons A to G. The SRA also sought to prohibit disclosure of the name of the Firm. The Tribunal granted anonymity for Persons A to G, finding it necessary where sexual misconduct was alleged. The request to anonymise the Firm was refused. During oral evidence Mr Eagle admitted that his conduct in Allegations 1.1 to 1.4 was sexual in nature. He admitted that his conduct in Allegations 1.1, 1.2 and 1.4 was sexually motivated. He did not admit this in relation to Allegation 1.3. The Tribunal found on the balance of probabilities that Mr Eagle’s conduct breached Principle 5 and that he failed to act with integrity. The Tribunal applied the test for integrity set out in Wingate v SRA [2018] EWCA Civ 366. Mr Eagle was suspended from the Roll of Solicitors for one year and ordered to pay costs in the sum of £30,000.00. |