Dodgy Solicitor of the Week
15 June 2012
Another week, another pair of solicitors banged up for stealing money from clients. And two new cards for RollOnFriday Dodgy Solicitor Top Trumps.

Kenneth Hunt and Barbara Gayton were jailed late last month for stealing over £1 million from their clients. The pair were partners at Hunt Kidd, a small property and employment firm in Newcastle. The firm was closed down after investigation by the SRA for financial irregularities nearly three years ago.

The firm had previously blossomed, supporting Hunt's lifestyle of fine wine and expensive holidays. But the downturn hit its practice hard, halving turnover. Lenders called in a £150,000 loan, and cut back hard on the firm's overdraft. In a last desperate attempt to keep the shop afloat, the two partners started transferring cash from client accounts into the firm's. Which, in case you needed reminding, runs contrary to section 1.2(a) of the SRA accounts rules. And is also theft.



The pair were arrested at the end of 2009, charged with fraud by abuse of position and finally faced Judge Guy Whitburn at Newcastle Crown Court at the end of May. Whilst it was accepted that neither of the partners had taken the cash to line their own pockets (well, not directly), Hunt's "pride and vanity" had led to repeat transfers of other peoples' cash into the firm's coffers. Hunt got four years inside, and Gayton two.

The sentences result in some re-shuffling in the RollOnFriday Dodgy Solicitor Top Trumps. Hunt flies straight in to fifth place, pushing HogLove's Christopher Grierson down a place into almost mid-table respectability.

Name	Jurisdiction	Sentence
Matthew Kluger, ex Skadden	USA	12 years
Martin Weisberg, ex Bakers	USA	expected 8 years
Kevin Steele, ex Mishcon	England	5 1/2 years
Louise Martini, ex Williamson & Soden	England	5 years
Kenneth Hunt, ex Hunt Kidd	England	4 years
Christopher Grierson, ex Lovells	England	3 years
Barbara Gayton, ex Hunt Kidd	England	2 years
Emma Rowsell, ex CC	England	18 months
Richard Simkin, ex Fulbright	England	16 months
Judie Groom, ex CC	England	15 months
Partner who ran a red light, Hogan Lovells	Dubai	20 days
Pissed trainee, Freshfields	Dubai	2 days

If you've spotted a Dodgy Solicitor who deserves to go into the pack, please send in the details.