Mark Harwood Williams, 49, admitted 1977, practised as RH Speechley Owen & Co, London NW10, Walford & Co, London NW2, Carruthers & Co, London, Southampton and Cambridge, struck off and ordered to pay £4,235 costs. Allegations substantiated he failed to reply adequately to correspondence from Solicitors Complaints Bureau and from clients; gave false and misleading information to bureau; unreasonably delayed accounting to a client; failed to pay counsel's fees or take steps necessary to procure prompt payment of them. Williams said it seemed "pretty clear" to him he had been guilty of unbefitting conduct. He said he assumed he would be struck off, but as he was unemployed and unemployable that would cause him "some emotional but no financial distress".
Kandiah Sivanathan, admitted 1986, practising at material times as K Siva & Co, London NW10, fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £2,219 costs. Allegations substantiated he failed to keep properly maintained account books, withdrew client money in breach of accounting rules.
Peter Michael Joy, legal executive working for Messrs Potter & Co (latterly Messrs Potter Brooke-Taylor & Co) of Matlock from 1989 to 1993, banned from working for any further solicitors without written consent from Law Society. Allegations substantiated he was jailed for eight months for each of four theft offences to which he pleaded guilty at Derby Crown Court in September last year. He had also asked for six further offences to be taken into consideration. All offences involved money belonging to employers' clients.
Michael Katz, admitted 1984, practised at material times as Michael Katz & Co, London W11, reprimanded. Allegations substantiated he failed or failed with reasonable expedition to deliver accountant's report in accordance with society rules. Katz previously before tribunal in 1988 and May 1995 when he was fined £500 and £4,000 respectively.
