Date
03 March 2016
Charges
The charges against Ms. Georgina Hawkes were:
Charge 1
Failing to maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct contrary to Principle 2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct 2010.
The particulars were that Georgina Jane Hawkes failed to comply with an Order of the CILEx Disciplinary Tribunal dated 11 December 2013 in that she has failed to pay in full the fine of £750 and costs of £1,524 in accordance with the terms of that Order.
Charge 2
Failing to maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct and/or act in the best interests of her client, contrary to Principle 2 and/or Principle 5 of the CILEx Code of Conduct 2010.
The particulars to the charge were that after 3 June 2014 Georgina Jane Hawkes, then a practitioner engaged in the business of (inter alia) probate services under the style “Hempsted Property and Probate Lawyers” alternatively “Hempsted Will and Probate” from (inter alia) 12 Queensberry Road Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9AU failed properly (or at all) to communicate with and/or respond to communications sent to her by her client Mrs AB in respect of the administration of the estate of Mr AB:
i. Email dated 27 July 2014;
ii. Email dated 30 July 2014;
iii. Email dated 4 August 2014;
iv. Email dated 6 September 2014;
v. Email dated 10 September 2014; and
vi. Email dated 9 October 2014.
Charge 3
Failing to maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct and/or act in the best interests of her client, contrary to Principle 2 and/or Principle 5 of the CILEx Code of Conduct 2010.
The particulars to the charge were that in or about May 2014 Georgina Jane Hawkes then a sole practitioner engaged in the said business transferred possession and conduct of the file of papers of her client Mrs AB (in the matter of the administration of the estate of Mr AB deceased) to a solicitors firm without the knowledge or consent of her client.
Charge 4
Failing to maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct and/or act in the best interests of her clients, contrary to Principle 2 and/or Principle 5 of the CILEx Code of Conduct 2010.
The particulars to the charge were that in consequence of the failure of Georgina Jane Hawkes to comply with the Accounts Code and Guidance of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (“CLC”):
1) on 20 November 2013 (she then being a member) the CLC resolved to intervene into the said practice “Hempsted Property & Probate Lawyers” of the said address;
2) on 3 December 2013 the CLC refused the renewal of her licence; and
3) on 13 August 2014, in consequence of the said intervention, the High Court made orders vesting various accounts of the said practice “Hempsted Property & Probate Lawyers” in the Claimant (CLC) and consequential orders against the said Georgina Jane Hawkes, for compliance and costs, subsequently assessed in the sum of 13,704.05.
Charge 5
Failing to maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct, contrary to Principle 2 of the CILEx Code of Conduct 2010.
The particulars to the charge were that on 8 April 2015, the said Georgina Jane Hawkes failed to discharge the said Order for Costs made by the High Court on 13 August 2014, was made the subject of a bankruptcy Order by the Cambridge County Court upon the petition of the CLC.
Outcome
The charges were found proved.
Sanction
The Disciplinary Tribunal ordered that Ms Hawkes be excluded from membership of CILEx for a period of 5 years at which point Ms. Hawkes may apply for reinstatement; which will be considered in the same way as any other reinstatement application. The Tribunal ordered costs to be paid by Ms Hawkes.
