Disciplinary Record - Paul Dawson

Decision date

25 January 2024

Charges

Mr Dawson admitted the following allegations of professional misconduct:-

Allegations

Mr Dawson admitted the following allegations of professional misconduct:-

Contrary to Principle 2, Outcome 2.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct

failed to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct and justify public trust in him, his profession, and the provision of legal services by engaging in conduct which could undermine or affect adversely the confidence and trust placed in him and his profession by his client, employer, professional colleagues, the public and others.

Contrary to Principle 3, Outcome 3.1 and 3.2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct

failed to behave with honesty and integrity by not being honest in all dealings and in all financial matters and to not intentionally mislead anyone he deals with.

1. In that between February 2017 and 2019 he misled clients as to the status of money that was paid to his firm which led to his dismissal for gross misconduct.
2. In that between February and August 2019 he misled his employer by completing a Declaration of Suitability Recruitment Form in which he confirmed that he had not been dismissed for misconduct or poor performance from a previous employer and that he had not provided any misleading, inaccurate, or incomplete information about himself during the recruitment process. Whereas he knew he had been dismissed from his previous employment for gross misconduct in February 2019.
3. In that between February 2019 and December 2020, he mislead or attempted to mislead CILEx Regulation by failing to disclose that he had engaged in conduct which he knew or ought to have known may affect CILEX membership.  He failed to disclose that he had been dismissed from his employment for gross misconduct in which clients had been misled and that he was the subject of an SRA investigation which led to control order being made in May 2021.

Contrary to Principle 4, Outcome 4.1 and 4.2 of the CILEX Code of Conduct

failed to understand and comply with the law and regulation applicable to him and/or take all practicable steps to ensure he can demonstrate that he has adhered to the core Principles and met the associated Outcomes in that:

1. In that between February 2019 and December 2020, he mislead or attempted to mislead CILEx Regulation by failing to disclose that he had engaged in conduct which he knew or ought to have known may affect CILEX membership.  He failed to disclose that he had been dismissed from his employment for gross misconduct in which clients had been misled and that he was the subject of an SRA investigation which led to control order being made in May 2021.

Outcome 

Mr Dawson admitted the allegations and, in accordance with Rule 18(1) CILEx Regulation Enforcement Rules, agreed to determine the allegation by consent and the imposition of exclusion from CILEX for a period of 4 years.

Sanction – Exclusion (fixed period)

The Professional Conduct Panel approved a Determination by Consent Order to exclude Mr Dawson for 4 years.