Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal

Alistair David Armstrong Shepherd Hall

A Complaint was made by the Council of the Law Society of Scotland against Alistair David Armstrong Shepherd Hall formerly of Kingseat, Bridge of Cally by Blairgowrie, Angus, and whose last known address is 2A Stafford Street, Helensburgh  (“the Respondent”).  

The Tribunal found the Respondent guilty of professional misconduct in respect of his misappropriation of  client funds and his breach of Rule 4(1) and Rule 6(1) of the Solicitors (Scotland) Accounts Rule 1997 and his deliberately hampering and obstructing the investigations of the Judicial Factor.  The Tribunal ordered that the name of the Respondent be struck off the Roll of Solicitors in Scotland.

The Respondent did not appear at the Tribunal hearing and evidence was led.  The Tribunal found the case against the Respondent proved beyond all reasonable doubt.  

The Respondent had withdrawn monies from the accounts of clients and utilised monies belonging to clients without the knowledge or consent of the clients for his own personal use and benefit.  He had removed monies from the accounts of clients on the false pretext of there being fees due to him as a solicitor where he had not carried out the work in relation to the fees charged or intimated a fee note to the particular client.  He had prepared a fictitious letter of acknowledgement purporting to have been the acknowledgement of a client of having received shares from him as a solicitor when he had sold the said shares and utilised the proceeds thereof for his personal gain.  He had deliberately hampered the investigations of the Judicial Factor, refusing to answer reasonable enquiries made of him by the Judicial Factor, and attempting to remove papers and documentation from the solicitors offices of Hall & Co.

The Tribunal considered the conduct of the Respondent warranted the description of “disgraceful and dishonourable” and having regard to the gravity of the Respondent ‘s conduct considered that the Respondent was no longer a fit and proper person to remain as a solicitor in Scotland.