Section 53 Powers of Tribunal.C1

after holding an inquiry into a complaint against a solicitor the Tribunal is satisfied that he has been guilty of professional misconduct, or

a solicitor has (whether before or after enrolment as a solicitor), been convicted by any court of an act involving dishonesty F1(other than a conviction for an economic crime offence) or has F2(other than in relation to a conviction for an economic crime offence) been F3fined an amount equivalent to level 4 on the standard scale or more (whether on summary or solemn conviction) or sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 12 months or more F4, or

a solicitor has (whether before or after enrolment as a solicitor) been convicted by any court of an economic crime offence, or

an incorporated practice has been convicted by any court of an offence F7(other than a conviction for an economic crime offence), which conviction the Tribunal is satisfied renders it unsuitable to continue to be recognised under section 34(1A); or

an authorised legal business has been convicted by a court of an offence, which conviction the Tribunal is satisfied renders it unsuitable to continue—

an incorporated practice has been convicted by any court of an economic crime offence, which conviction the Tribunal is satisfied renders it unsuitable to continue to be recognised under section 34(1A), or

after holding an inquiry into a complaint, the Tribunal is satisfied that an F9incorporated practice authorised legal business has failed to comply with any provision of this Act or of rules made under this Act applicable to it.

order that the name of the solicitor be struck off the roll; F10...

if the solicitor's name has been removed from the roll under section 9, by order prohibit the restoration of the solicitor's name to the roll;

order that the solicitor be suspended from practice as a solicitor for such time as it may determine; ...

order that any right of audience held by the solicitor by virtue of section 25A be suspended or revoked;

where the solicitor has been guilty of professional misconduct, and where the Tribunal consider that the complainer has been directly affected by the misconduct, direct the solicitor to pay compensation of such amount, not exceeding £5,000, as the Tribunal may specify to the complainer for loss, inconvenience or distress resulting from the misconduct;

where—

direct the practice to pay to the complainer compensation (for loss, inconvenience or distress resulting from the misconduct) of such amount not exceeding £5,000 as the Tribunal may specify;

subject to subsection F15(3ZA), impose on the solicitor F16or, as the case may be, the F17incorporated practice authorised legal business a fine not exceeding F18£10,000; ...

where the Tribunal is proceeding on the ground in subsection (1)(ba) or (1)(ca), or where subsection (2A) or (2B) applies, impose on the solicitor or, as the case may be, the incorporated practice, a fine of any amount;

censure the solicitor or, as the case may be, the F20incorporated practice authorised legal business; ...

impose such fine and censure him or, as the case may be, itF21...

order that the recognition under section 34(1A) of the incorporated practice be revokedF22; F23or

order that the authorisation of a legal business to provide legal services be withdrawn, or

order that an investment business certificate issued to a solicitor, a firm of solicitors or an incorporated practice be—

the solicitor has, in relation to the subject matter of the Tribunal’s inquiry, been convicted by any court of an economic crime offence, or

the misconduct referred to in subsection (1)(a) consisted of an act or omission which had the effect of inhibiting the prevention or detection of an economic crime offence.

in relation to the subject matter of the Tribunal’s inquiry, been convicted by any court of an economic crime offence, or

failed to comply with a provision or rule as referred to in subsection (1)(d) and—

where the Tribunal is proceeding on the ground referred to in subsection (1)(a) and the solicitor, in relation to the subject matter of the Tribunal's inquiry, has been convicted by any court of an act involving dishonesty F28(not being an economic crime offence) and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 2 years;

where the Tribunal is proceeding on the ground referred to in subsection (1)(b) F29, (1)(ba) or (1)(ca);

where subsection (2A) or (3A) applies.

in relation to a former solicitor, notwithstanding that his name has been struck off the roll or that he has, since the date of the misconduct, conviction or sentence referred to in subsection F33(1)(a), (b) or (ba), ceased to practise as a solicitor or been suspended from practice;

in relation to a body corporate which was formerly an F34incorporated practice authorised legal business, notwithstanding that the body has, since the date of the conviction or failure referred to in subsection F35(1)(c), (ca) or (d), ceased to be recognised as an incorporated practice by virtue of section 34(1A) F36or had its authorisation to provide legal services withdrawn.

the Tribunal may order that the business’s authorisation is to be subject to such conditions as the Tribunal may direct, and

the Council must give effect to such an order.

paragraph ( c ) of subsection (2) by substituting for the amount for the time being specified in that paragraph such other amount as appears to him to be justified by a change in the value of money.

the definition of “ investment business certificate ” in subsection (7A) by substituting for the reference to Rule 2.2 of the Solicitors (Scotland) (Conduct of Investment Business) Practice Rules 1988, or such reference replacing that reference as may for the time being be specified in that subsection, a reference to such Practice Rule as may from time to time replace Rule 2.2.