Law Society-v-Kenneth Woodburn

Glasgow, 12 August 2025. The Tribunal having considered the Complaint dated 5 December 2024 at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland, Atria One, 144 Morrison Street, Edinburgh against Kenneth D Woodburn, 16 Forth Street, Edinburgh; Finds the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct in respect of his contraventions of Rules B1.2 and B1.15 of the Practice Rules 2011 singly in relation to the conduct narrated in each of paragraphs 9.2, 9.3, 9.4 and 9.6; Finds the Respondent not guilty of professional misconduct in respect of the conduct narrated at 9.5; Censures the Respondent; Directs in terms of Section 53(5) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 that any practising certificate held or to be issued to the Respondent shall be subject to such restriction as prohibits him from mentoring, managing or supervising any person in a professional capacity for a period of three years; Fines him in the sum of £5,000 to be Forfeit to His Majesty; Finds the Respondent liable in the expenses of the Complainers and of the Tribunal including expenses of the Clerk, chargeable as the same may be taxed by the Auditor of the Court of Session on a party and party basis in terms of Schedule 1 of the Act of Sederunt (Taxation of Judicial Expenses Rules) 2019 as amended with a unit rate of £18.00; Directs that publicity will be given to this decision and that this publicity should include only the name of the Respondent; and Allows the Secondary Complainer, Ms M, 28 days from the intimation of this decision to lodge a written claim for compensation. 

Catherine Hart

Vice Chair

By Video Conference, 5 May 2025.  The Tribunal, having considered the Complaint at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Kenneth D Woodburn, 16 Forth Street, Edinburgh and having previously determined that the Respondent was guilty of professional misconduct; Finds that the Secondary Complainer has been directly affected by the Respondent's misconduct and considers that it is appropriate to award compensation to the Secondary Complainer: Ordains the Respondent in terms of Section 53(2)(bb) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 to pay to the Secondary Complainer, Ms M, care of the Law Society of Scotland,  Atria One, 144 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, the sum of £3,000 by way of compensation in respect of inconvenience and distress resulting from the misconduct, payable in instalments of £100 per calendar month with the first instalment due within 28 days of the date of intimation of this Interlocutor to the Respondent, with interest payable at the rate of 8% per annum on any late or unpaid instalment from the due date until paid; Makes no award of expenses due to or by either party; and Directs that publicity will be given to this decision and that this publicity should include only the name of the Respondent.

Beverley Atkinson

Chair