Solicitors Tribunal Fines Lawyer Ashley Hurst

Ashley Hurst, a solicitor from Osborne Clarke, has been fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £260,000 in costs by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for attempting to silence campaigner Dan Neidle over former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi's tax affairs. Hurst's misconduct involved sending a 'without prejudice' email that implicitly threatened Neidle with a defamation claim if he published details of their correspondence regarding Zahawi's alleged tax evasion. While the SDT ruled that Hurst's actions were improper, it clarified that the case was not a SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) as it did not seek to prevent scrutiny of Zahawi's tax issues. Neidle expressed satisfaction with the tribunal's decision, emphasizing the importance of transparency in such matters. The tribunal found a second allegation related to a subsequent letter unproven. Zahawi's tax affairs have sparked controversy since July 2022, culminating in a hefty settlement with HMRC and his dismissal as Conservative party chair in January 2023.