A former Halliwells solicitor has been struck from the roll after embezzling over £90,000 from the firm's clients.
Martin Roberts re-directed client monies into his own account (and that of a fellow associate) during his stint as a real estate lawyer in the the firm's Manchester office. His scam was hardly subtle. He sent an invoice - for £22,000 - to a client asking that the money be sent to him, rather than the firm.
Wisely, the client - Clivenden Homes - paid the money direct to Halliwells. And when the Halliwells bean counters were unable to match the cash to an invoice, Roberts' world came crashing down. It was discovered that, as well as this scam, he'd also been stealing money by over-charging clients for Stamp Duty Land Tax.
Halliwells took Roberts to court where not only was he ordered to repay £70,000, but he also had his assets frozen - including property, pension and savings. Unsurprisingly he also lost his new job with Manchester firm Kuit Steinhart Levy solicitors.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal struck Roberts from the roll, saying that his behaviour was not only dishonest but disgraceful. Meanwhile the firm has yet to press criminal charges, but seeing it's currently disappearing up its own fundament it may have other things to worry about.
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Martin Roberts re-directed client monies into his own account (and that of a fellow associate) during his stint as a real estate lawyer in the the firm's Manchester office. His scam was hardly subtle. He sent an invoice - for £22,000 - to a client asking that the money be sent to him, rather than the firm.
Wisely, the client - Clivenden Homes - paid the money direct to Halliwells. And when the Halliwells bean counters were unable to match the cash to an invoice, Roberts' world came crashing down. It was discovered that, as well as this scam, he'd also been stealing money by over-charging clients for Stamp Duty Land Tax.
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Halliwell's client account yesterday |
Halliwells took Roberts to court where not only was he ordered to repay £70,000, but he also had his assets frozen - including property, pension and savings. Unsurprisingly he also lost his new job with Manchester firm Kuit Steinhart Levy solicitors.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal struck Roberts from the roll, saying that his behaviour was not only dishonest but disgraceful. Meanwhile the firm has yet to press criminal charges, but seeing it's currently disappearing up its own fundament it may have other things to worry about.