Barrister Peter Gray was ordered to be disbarred by an independent disciplinary tribunal which concluded on 10 December following a finding on seven charges of professional misconduct brought by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The tribunal found that Mr Gray, an unregistered barrister engaged in conduct which was dishonest, prejudicial to the administration of justice and likely to diminish public confidence in the legal profession.
The charges arose from Mr Gray’s conduct during proceedings before the High Court in September 2013 and November 2014 where he provided misleading evidence and correspondence. The same conduct led to Mr Gray being struck off from the Roll of Solicitors by the SDT in May 2021.
Mr Gray was practising as a solicitor and so it was appropriate to allow the SRA’s proceedings to conclude, including the appeal process, before taking action.
Spokesperson, The Bar Standards Board said:
“The public rightly expect barristers to act with honesty, whether practising or acting in another legal role. Misleading the Court and others in legal proceedings is a serious failure to meet these expectations. and the tribunals decision to disbar Mr Gray reflects this.”
The tribunal also ordered that Mr Gray should not be issued with a practising certificate pending any appeal.
Peter Matthew James Gray was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in October 1999.
About disciplinary tribunals
The appointment, operation, and decisions (including sentencing) of disciplinary tribunal panels are performed by the Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service (BTAS). BTAS is run independently of the Bar Standards Board, the barristers' regulator. The BSB is responsible for bringing charges of professional misconduct against barristers, which BTAS tribunal panels then adjudicate. The sanctions imposed are a matter for the tribunal having regard to the facts of the individual case and the BTAS Sanctions Guidance.
Information on how to report concerns about barristers can be found here.
