In brief: Former West lawyer appeals suspension

Cheltenham sole practitioner Howard Ogden, Frederick West's former lawyer, is appealing against his one-year suspension from practice following a disciplinary hearing into his conduct. At the solicitors' disciplinary tribunal last week, he admitted acting in a way likely to bring his profession into disrepute and allowing a conflict of interest to arise. An allegation of purporting to enter into an agreement with West to acquire an interest in publication rights prior to the conclusion of the case was "not proven" by the tribunal. After the hearing, the solicitor said he intended to appeal. As The Lawyer went to press he was lodging an appeal at the High Court and applying for his sentence to be suspended pending the hearing.