Law Society-v-Siobhan Sullivan

By Video Conference,  4 December 2025.  The Tribunal having considered the Complaint dated 21 May 2025 at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland, Atria One, 144 Morrison Street, Edinburgh against Siobhan Sullivan, c/o Bridge Legal Limited, Carlton Buildings, 63 Carlton Place, Glasgow; Finds the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct in cumulo in respect that, in a period of time before 2016, she (1) Abandoned or settled actions without instructions from the relevant clients to do so; (2) Misled clients regarding the outcome of actions raised on their behalf, including informing client their actions had been successful when this was incorrect; (3) Diverted judicial expenses, payable to Brodies LLP, to pay both fictitious sums of damages to clients and fictitious fees due to Brodies LLP, and to meet the expenses of defenders in abandoned actions, and this she did by facilitating the payment of cheques, payable to Brodies LLP, to incorrect client accounts and impacted on approximately 135 separate matters; (4)  Used monies properly due to clients inappropriately in that, having wrongly assumed a cheque received was for expenses, when in fact it was for damages, she banked these monies to the wrong client account; (5) Used monies properly due to clients inappropriately in that, having received a payment by BACS transfer which was to cover both damages and expenses, she banked these monies to the wrong client account;  (6) Created false entries in the firm’s case management system, including false time records, false letters purporting to chase expenses, and false work in progress entries in order to facilitate her deception; and (7) Misled colleagues in relation to her actions, including a partner of the firm, her line manager and cash room staff, in order to facilitate her deception;  Orders that the name of the Respondent be Struck Off the Roll of Solicitors in Scotland; 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; and Directs 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.

Mark Hastings

Vice Chair