An estate planning consultant at Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) who falsely confirmed that he had witnessed the signatures on a lasting power of attorney (LPA) has been banned from the profession.

Ian Heslop accepted that he had acted dishonestly in a regulatory settlement agreement with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Under section 43 of the Solicitors Act 1974, he cannot now work for a regulated law firm without the SRA’s permission.

An SRA notice said he was a consultant who worked for CLS under the supervision of a solicitor.

In October 2024, clients instructed CLS to draft an LPA. CLS sent the draft to the donor and two attorneys for them to review and sign, and Mr Heslop subsequently falsely signed the LPA as having witnessed the signatures. This rendered it invalid

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