Respondent AD

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Solicitor AD, a partner/owner-manager, COLP and COFA at the Firm, admitted misappropriating £200,000 from two estates (OH and RH, £100,000 each in 2019), causing a client account shortage which was not promptly replaced, and overcharging on six estates (OH £62,305.38; RH £83,238.24; EB £26,028.51; JM £21,540.96; JTW £3,756.80; AMB £1,487.65). The Tribunal, on an agreed outcome, found the admissions properly made and found dishonesty (admitted by the Respondent). Given dishonesty and the absence of exceptional circumstances, the Tribunal ordered the Respondent be struck off the Roll and pay agreed costs of £1,000.

Duties found breached:

• Good faith and courtesy to colleagues
• No conflict between current clients
• Non-discriminatory acceptance and cab-rank
• Not misrepresent regulated status

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonesty
• Misappropriation of client/estate monies
• Victims were the deceased and beneficiaries who could not speak for themselves
• Abuse of trust placed in him
• Overcharging across six estates (front-loading value-element charges)
• Held senior compliance roles (COLP and COFA)
• Shortages not replaced promptly (549 days and 463 days)

Mitigating factors:

• Ill-health