Law Society-v-William Walls

Edinburgh 4 October 2017.  The Tribunal having considered the Complaint dated 11 April 2017 at the instance of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against William Walls, 1 Muir Gardens, St Andrews; Find the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct in respect that he charged grossly excessive fees in respect of executry and other matters; he took fees without rendering fee notes or otherwise obtaining authority from clients to do so; his financial records did not contain correct firm balances or no ledger reflecting the financial position of the firm, or correct client bank accounts or client balances, all in breach of Rules B6.7 of the Practice Rules; he misappropriated funds held on behalf of clients to his own use; and he failed timeously to stamp and record a disposition;   Order that the name of the Respondent be Struck Off the Roll of Solicitors in Scotland; Direct in terms of Section 53(6) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980 that this order shall take effect on the date on which the written findings are intimated to the Respondent; 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

Eric Lumsden

Acting Vice Chairman