Analiza Abella Kjaer

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

Analiza Abella Kjaer, a sole practitioner and COLP/COFA at Able Law, received £132,000 into client account for her divorce client ET but failed to release the funds after authority was given on 17 December 2020, misused £67,538.65 for unrelated purposes, and on 25 January 2021 misrepresented to ET that she lacked authority to release the funds. She failed to replace the client account shortage and failed entirely to cooperate with the SRA's forensic investigation. The Tribunal proceeded in her absence, found all four allegations proved on the balance of probabilities including two findings of dishonesty (Principle 4), and, absent exceptional circumstances, ordered that she be struck off the Roll and pay costs of £27,577.90.

Duties found breached:

• Proper basis for allegations
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• Act in the client's best interests
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Firm governance, systems and compliance
• Cooperate openly with regulators

Aggravating factors:

• Misuse of client money causing a shortage of £67,538.65
• Client (ET) left without her £132,000 settlement and had to seek recovery via the Compensation Fund
• Client left without a permanent residence amid rising house prices/interest rates
• Complete failure to engage with or cooperate with the SRA investigation
• Vacated firm premises without notice
• Two findings of dishonesty