Law Society-v-Simon David Brown
Interlocutor
Edinburgh 4 October 2019. The Tribunal having considered the Complaint at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Simon David Brown, Eglinton House, 22 Eglinton Street, Irvine; Find the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct in respect that he (a) in or around the period between 11 April 2015 and 17 February 2018 published posts on the social media platform Twitter referring to Orange Walks in terms which were apt to be categorised as, and likely to be considered, discriminatory, sectarian, derogatory, and offensive in their nature and which were capable of bringing the profession into disrepute, (b) in or around the period between 11 April 2015 and 17 February 2018 published posts on the social media platform Twitter referring to Orange Walks in terms which were apt to be categorised as, and likely to be considered, discriminatory, sectarian, derogatory, and offensive in their nature, which drew the Respondent’s integrity into question, and (c) in or around the period between 11 April 2015 and 17 February 2018 published posts on the social media platform Twitter referring to Orange Walks in terms which were apt to be categorised as, and likely to be considered, discriminatory, sectarian, derogatory, and offensive in their nature, which drew the Respondent’s integrity into question and thereby a breach of Rule B1.2 of the Law Society of Scotland Practice Rules 2011; Censure the Respondent; Fine him in the sum of £6,000 to be Forfeit to Her Majesty; Find the Respondent liable in the expenses of the Complainers and of the Tribunal including expenses of the Clerk, chargeable on a time and line basis as the same may be taxed by the Auditor of the Court of Session on an agent and client, client paying basis in terms of Chapter Three of the last published Law Society’s Table of Fees for general business with a unit rate of £14.00; and Direct that publicity will be given to this decision and that this publicity should include the name of the Respondent but need not identify any other person.
Beverley Atkinson
Vice Chair