Markus Findlay successfully represented a dentist at a three-day Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) hearing in March 2023.
The General Dental Council (GDC) brought charges against his client following a breach of the community requirements of a Suspended Sentence Order and following his non-disclosure of two criminal convictions. The GDC alleged that his fitness to practise was impaired by reason of conviction and misconduct.
The hearing involved legal argument concerning whether breaches of community requirements and Conditional Discharges were convictions and what their status was in the regulatory context. The PCC heard also heard live evidence from the client who described his challenging journey into dental practice, from being street homeless and a single father to being accepted into a prestigious dental school following an access course.
Although the PCC found that his conduct was misleading and lacking integrity, they were persuaded that the client had not acted dishonestly. They also went on to find that his fitness to practise was not impaired.
Markus was instructed by Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit).
Markus accepts instructions in criminal, extradition, regulatory, and public law matters. He acts for both regulators and registrants and is developing expertise concerning the overlap between criminal and regulatory proceedings.
