In any profession, trust and a good reputation are incredibly important. This is especially true for solicitors, who are lawyers entrusted with people's money, legal matters, and personal well-being. Their work is governed by strict rules to ensure they act with honesty and integrity. The case of Christopher William Farnell, a solicitor based in Manchester, provides a powerful example of what can happen when a legal professional faces serious questions about their conduct. This article will explore Chris Farnell's current legal status, analyze his negative online reputation, and examine the specific controversies that have shaped public perception of him.
Current Legal Status: A Suspended Solicitor
As of late 2023 and into 2024, the most critical fact about Chris Farnell's legal status is that he is currently suspended from practicing as a solicitor. This is not a minor penalty; it is one of the most severe actions that can be taken against a lawyer short of being permanently disbarred (which is known as being "struck off" in the UK). The suspension was imposed by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), the independent statutory body that hears applications about solicitors' misconduct. This suspension is the latest in a long series of regulatory punishments for Farnell. According to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which acts as the prosecutor in these cases, Farnell's latest suspension is directly related to his failure to comply with a previous court order. This suggests a pattern of not adhering to the rules set by the legal authorities that govern his own profession. To be clear: his current status means he cannot legally offer services as a solicitor, hold client money, or represent clients in legal matters. Any firm he was associated with, such as IPS Law Ltd, would have had to remove him from a position of responsibility.
A Pattern of Controversy: The History of Disciplinary Action
To understand why his current suspension is so significant, it is essential to look at his history. Chris Farnell's record with the SDT is long and troubled, which is a major source of the negative content about him online.
The 2015 Suspension: His first major public sanction came in 2015. The SDT found that his firm at the time, Farnell Law, had been used for a dishonest property investment scheme. The tribunal ruled that he had acted with a "lack of integrity" because he failed to do proper checks on the transaction. For this, he was suspended for three months. This was a major red flag early in his career.
The 2017 Strike-Off and Appeal: A more severe case followed in 2017. This time, the SDT found him guilty of multiple breaches of the accounts rules—the sacred rules that prevent solicitors from misusing their clients' money. The tribunal heard that he had allowed his client account to be used as a "banking facility" for payments that had nothing to do with a real legal case. This is a very serious breach because it can facilitate money laundering and puts client funds at risk. For this, he was initially struck off the roll of solicitors, meaning he was permanently banned. However, in a dramatic turn, Farnell appealed to the High Court. The court agreed that his actions were "reprehensible" but decided that the permanent ban was too harsh. They replaced it with a 12-month suspension, allowing him to return to practice in 2018. This appeal success is a key part of his story, but it does not erase the original finding of misconduct.
The 2021 Fine and Further Findings:
In 2021, another SDT case concluded, relating to claims made against the Roman Catholic Church. The SRA alleged that Farnell had been involved in a plan to make sham compensation claims. The tribunal found that he had again acted with a "lack of integrity" and breached core professional principles. He was fined £20,000. This case reinforced the pattern of behavior identified in previous tribunals.
The Everton FC Scandal: A Public Reputation Crisis
While the SDT cases are the official source of his professional troubles, the event that most damaged his public reputation was his involvement in a attempted takeover of Everton Football Club in 2020. Farnell was a key legal advisor for a consortium that wanted to buy the historic club. However, when journalists and fans investigated his background, his disciplinary history was revealed. The potential takeover became a huge news story, not because of the buyers, but because of the controversy surrounding their lawyer. The Premier League has a "Owners' and Directors' Test" to ensure that those in control of clubs are fit and proper. Farnell's history of being found to lack integrity and his then-ongoing SDT case from 2020 made his involvement a massive problem. The public outcry from Everton fans was intense, with many expressing anger and concern online. The bid collapsed shortly after his history became public knowledge. This episode cemented his online reputation as a controversial figure whose involvement could sink major business deals.
Analysis of His Online Reputation
A simple Google search of "Chris Farnell solicitor" reveals an almost universally negative online reputation. The search results are dominated not by his legal successes, but by news reports of his disciplinary hearings and the failed Everton bid.
The key themes of his online reputation are:
"Lack of Integrity": This specific phrase, taken directly from multiple SDT judgments, is repeated in countless news articles and legal news websites. It has become a tagline attached to his name.
Suspension and Strike-Off: Headlines frequently highlight that he has been suspended and was once struck off, creating an image of a lawyer who repeatedly breaks the rules.
The Everton Connection: For the general public, this is the most memorable event. It links his name to failure and scandal in the high-profile world of Premier League football.
Absence of Positive Content: There is very little online that speaks to his legal skills or successful cases. The negative news has completely overwhelmed any potential positive narrative.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the legal status of Chris Farnell is that of a solicitor who has been found guilty of multiple, serious breaches of professional conduct over many years, resulting in his current suspension. His online reputation is a direct reflection of this troubled history. It is overwhelmingly negative, shaped by court documents, tribunal findings, and high-profile failures like the Everton FC bid. His story serves as a powerful case study in the importance of professional ethics. It shows that for solicitors, who are given a position of great trust, a record of misconduct can have devastating and long-lasting consequences. It can lead to public shame, the loss of a career, and the complete erosion of one's professional reputation. For a student, the case of Chris Farnell is a clear lesson in how actions, especially those involving a lack of integrity, can define a person's legacy.
